Breeding Grounds of Extremism: How Syria Refugee Camps Fuel Radicalization

cc Y. Boechat (VOA), modified, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:VOA_in_Al-Hol_Camp,_Syria,_17_October_2019.jpg

The collapse of centralized governance in Syria has created a power vacuum eagerly exploited by extremist groups, including remnants of Islamic State (IS). While IS no longer holds significant territory in the country, its ideology remains potent, allowing insurgents to operate in sparsely populated regions. This persistent threat has transformed refugee camps like al-Hol, managed by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), into breeding grounds for extremism. Originally established to shelter refugees and internally displaced persons, these camps have devolved into volatile environments, drawing comparisons to Iraq’s infamous Camp Bucca.

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