REPORT: 850 children are being held hostage in Syrian prison taken over by ISIS

Hundreds of children are being held hostage by ISIS in a Syrian prison after ISIS fighters raided the prison and took it over in an attempt to free imprisoned ISIS fighters.

Last Thursday, ISIS fighters stormed the Ghwayran prison in Hasaka and after days of battles, freeing jihadist prisoners – who were later recaptured – and taking 850 children who were detained in the prison after being taken into custody while training with ISIS. Some of the children are as young as twelve, according to UNICEF.

The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) has been battling with the ISIS members for days, and as of yesterday said they had the prison surrounded and none of the jihadists inside could get out.

However, due to the hundreds of children involved, defense forces have been unable to enter the prison for fear of harming the young hostages.

“As fighting continues, the risk for children increases including to be harmed or forcibly recruited,” UNICEF said, adding the children are at “serious risk.” Hundreds of the jihadists who escaped during the prison attack have been recaptured, while some remain on the loose.