Husein Raad and I talk about the situation in Ras al-Ayn.

Part 2.

Hussein Raad (39), of mixed Arab and Kurdish origine, had to flee Amouda years ago because of repressive PYD rule. He lived in Turkish Ceylanpinar, the Turkish mirror town of Ras al-Ayn for years, and came back to Syria when YPG was removed in Ras al-Ayn in 2019. Raad is a member of the local council in Ras al-Ayn. Last month I interviewed him in Gaziantep.

What happened yesterday [in June some ISIS fighters broke out a prison in Ra’s al-Ayn] ? You also have a prison with ISIS fighters.

Raad: “They fled, 22 and they caught until now 4.”

But you have a prison in Ras al-Ayn with ISIS fighters.

Raad: “Yes, there is one.”

Are there also foreigners, for example Europeans?

Raad: There are foreigners, Iraqis, but other foreigners, I don't think so, all on the PKK side, in the al-Howl camp.

The people now, because of the narrowness of the area, we need opening of crossings, we strive to open a crossing, with SDF but the other side is blocking it.”

You wanted to open a crossing with SDF, the al-Tuffaha crossing..