In a successful operation at the al-Hol camp in northeast Syria, Kurdish forces, specifically the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ), a female partner force of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), have rescued Kovan Aidi Khourto, a Yazidi woman who had been held captive by the Islamic State (ISIS) for almost a decade.

Kovan, originally from Hardan village in Shangal, was abducted by ISIS during the Shangal/Sinjar massacre in 2014. This operation marks a significant step towards addressing the aftermath of the brutal ISIS onslaught in the Yazidi heartland of Shingal, where thousands of women and children were abducted, forced into sexual slavery, and subjected to labor.

The Yazidi community faced genocide as ISIS swept through the region in August 2014, with a staggering 6,417 women and children abducted. Tragically, approximately 2,700 of them are still missing. The al-Hol camp, known for its notorious conditions and insecurity, has become a focal point for the rescue of ISIS captives, with many individuals still adhering to extremist ideologies.

Kurdish forces have been actively conducting security operations within the camp, aiming to address the ongoing threat posed by individuals with ties to ISIS. Recently, on Saturday, they announced the capture of an ISIS facilitator responsible for spreading extremism among children within the camp. The sprawling al-Hol camp has faced criticism for being a potential breeding ground for terrorism due to the presence of individuals with lingering ISIS affiliations.

Efforts to rescue and rehabilitate Yazidi captives continue, shedding light on the ongoing challenges faced by the international community in the aftermath of ISIS's reign of terror in the region.