In a monumental development, sources have confirmed to local press that all detainees held in the notorious Sednaya Prison have been released.
The announcement refutes lingering rumors about the existence of inaccessible cells within the prison.
Reports indicate that the “Deterring Aggression” forces achieved full control of the facility yesterday afternoon, marking a significant milestone in the unfolding political and military crisis.
Diab Serriya, head of the Association of Detainees and Missing Persons in Sednaya Prison, clarified in an interview with Al-Jumhuriya, a local paper in Syria that misleading early press reports created the impression that some prisoners remained behind.
“All prisoners, including those held in isolation in the Red Section, have been completely liberated,” Serriya emphasized, dispelling doubts about the extent of the operation’s success.
The Distinction Between Prison Sections
The infamous Sednaya Prison comprises two main sections. The Red Section, reserved for political detainees, has long symbolized the regime’s harsh measures against dissent.
In contrast, the White Section houses military personnel serving sentences for crimes or misdemeanors.
According to Serriya, many military detainees had already left their cells by the time local fighters arrived to free the remaining prisoners.
This phased evacuation further contributed to initial confusion regarding the number of detainees still in captivity.
The Liberation Efforts
The dramatic events leading to the liberation began early Sunday morning when local fighters from Rankous and Assal al-Ward in Qalamoun stormed military positions near the prison.
These actions took place hours before the official announcement of the regime’s collapse.
Fighters recounted a fierce 45-minute clash with the prison garrison before reaching an agreement to allow regime personnel to vacate the facility without further bloodshed.
The Association of Detainees and Missing Persons had closely coordinated with these local fighters to ensure the operation’s success.
Serriya revealed that as soon as control of the prison was secured, the fighters began opening the main cells on the upper floors.
The process was slow due to the lack of proper equipment but was eventually completed, resulting in the evacuation of all detainees.
By dawn, focus shifted to the more challenging task of unlocking the solitary cells located in the kitchen area.
Despite these obstacles, all prisoners were freed before daylight.
Chaos and Relief Outside the Prison
As news of the liberation spread, families of the detainees and journalists converged at the prison gates.
The scene was described as chaotic, with emotional reunions and desperate searches for loved ones.
Rumors of inaccessible cells circulated among the families, but these were swiftly debunked by those on the ground.
Sources confirmed that every single detainee had been accounted for.
Post-Release Humanitarian Efforts
Once freed, the detainees—estimated to number between 2,000 and 2,500—were transported to safe locations.
Civil initiatives in the towns of Tal and Minin provided immediate shelter and care.
The Association of Detainees and Missing Persons coordinated transportation efforts, grouping the former prisoners by their respective governorates to facilitate their return home.
For detainees from Damascus and its suburbs, the Salam Mosque in the Barzeh neighborhood served as a central gathering point.
Community volunteers and humanitarian organizations were seen providing food, water, and medical assistance to the newly liberated individuals, many of whom had endured years of inhumane conditions.
The End of an Era
Sednaya Prison, long regarded as a symbol of the regime’s oppressive tactics, now stands empty for the first time in decades.
This development marks a turning point in the broader conflict, symbolizing not only the collapse of a brutal regime but also the resilience of those who fought for justice and liberation.
As the region grapples with the aftermath, the focus now shifts to rebuilding lives and ensuring accountability for the atrocities committed within Sednaya’s walls.
For the families of the detainees, the day is one of bittersweet relief—a long-awaited moment of freedom tempered by the scars of years lost.
