Kurdish-Led Militia Claims to Retake Prison Stormed by ISIS

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BEIRUT, Lebanon
The Kurdish-led militia that has been battling Islamic State fighters for control of a prison in northeastern Syria said Wednesday that it had retaken the whole complex.
A spokesman for the Syrian Democratic Forces militia, Farhad Shami, wrote on Twitter that six days of battle had ended with “our entire control” of the makeshift prison in the city of Hasaka.
About 30 S.D.F. militiamen and hundreds of ISIS members, both attackers and prisoners who joined them, have been killed since the group’s fighters attacked the prison and seized control of part of it on Thursday.
The attack, which involved hundreds of fighters, was one of several recent military operations by the Islamic State showing that the group has again become a potent regional threat since its territorial defeat in Syria three years ago.
There was no immediate word of new casualties on Wednesday.
About 700 boys had been held by the ISIS fighters as human shields, including at least one American.
In recent days, the fighting has centered on one building in the complex where the 700 boys were held. Mr. Shami said that about 500 ISIS fighters holed up there were holding the boys and some of the prison workers hostage.
The S.D.F., backed by American ground troops and air support, had surrounded the building for several days, meaning that no food or water could make it in.
On Wednesday, S.D.F. members posted images of scores of men who appeared to be prisoners lined up in the prison yard after surrendering.