Kurdish authorities in Syria have arrested an ISIS leader and confiscated phones and computers during a raid on extremist sleeper cells operating in the Al Hol refugee camp.
Abu Saad Al Iraqi, a wanted recruiter for the extremist group, was detained along with eight others during large scale operations at the camp aimed at thwarting its resurgence in Syria’s restive north-east.
More than 5,000 soldiers from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the Kurdish militia responsible for the camp’s security, were deployed to Al Hol at the weekend.
At least 47 people have been murdered in the camp so far this year, in a marked deterioration of security at the site which houses the families of ISIS members.
SDF sources told The National that during the weekend sweep they uncovered more than 200 mobile phones, four military uniforms, a laptop, and five hard drives.
Local media also reported that an unfinished tunnel hidden beneath one of the tents in the camp had been discovered.
Some 1,700 people over the age of 15 also had their biometric data registered as authorities continue to survey the demographics of camp residents.
The makeshift encampment at Al Hol was filled with more than 60,000 people who poured out of Baghouz, the border town where ISIS made its last stand, in 2019.
Videos of the raid released by the SDF showed columns of heavily armed soldiers and armoured trucks rolling into the camp as the sun rose on Sunday.
The camp has seen a steady rise in violence in recent months, as Kurdish authorities plead with foreign governments to take back their nationals associated with the extremist group.
On a recent visit to Al Hol, camp authorities told The National that ISIS is active within the camp and that the group has smuggled weapons and mobile phones into the camp.
They warned that the group may be using the relative haven of Al Hol to plan escapes and attacks outside of Syria.
Much of the search took place in the local section of the camp, a larger part where more than 50,000 Syrians and Iraqis are held.
Security is tighter in the annex – the small section reserved for foreign ISIS fighters.
The Kurdish Women’s Protection Units (YPJ) were also involved in the raid.
The US-led coalition against ISIS said it was providing its SDF partners with "intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance" support, though SDF sources said that Americans were not present in the camp during the raid.
"The purpose of this SDF operation is to degrade and disrupt Daesh activities within the camp," coalition spokesperson Wayne Marotto told AFP, using an Arabic acronym for the extremist group.
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Citizenship-by-investment programmes
United Kingdom
The UK offers three programmes for residency. The UK Overseas Business Representative Visa lets you open an overseas branch office of your existing company in the country at no extra investment. For the UK Tier 1 Innovator Visa, you are required to invest £50,000 (Dh238,000) into a business. You can also get a UK Tier 1 Investor Visa if you invest £2 million, £5m or £10m (the higher the investment, the sooner you obtain your permanent residency).
All UK residency visas get approved in 90 to 120 days and are valid for 3 years. After 3 years, the applicant can apply for extension of another 2 years. Once they have lived in the UK for a minimum of 6 months every year, they are eligible to apply for permanent residency (called Indefinite Leave to Remain). After one year of ILR, the applicant can apply for UK passport.
The Caribbean
Depending on the country, the investment amount starts from $100,000 (Dh367,250) and can go up to $400,000 in real estate. From the date of purchase, it will take between four to five months to receive a passport.
Portugal
The investment amount ranges from €350,000 to €500,000 (Dh1.5m to Dh2.16m) in real estate. From the date of purchase, it will take a maximum of six months to receive a Golden Visa. Applicants can apply for permanent residency after five years and Portuguese citizenship after six years.
“Among European countries with residency programmes, Portugal has been the most popular because it offers the most cost-effective programme to eventually acquire citizenship of the European Union without ever residing in Portugal,” states Veronica Cotdemiey of Citizenship Invest.
Greece
The real estate investment threshold to acquire residency for Greece is €250,000, making it the cheapest real estate residency visa scheme in Europe. You can apply for residency in four months and citizenship after seven years.
Spain
The real estate investment threshold to acquire residency for Spain is €500,000. You can apply for permanent residency after five years and citizenship after 10 years. It is not necessary to live in Spain to retain and renew the residency visa permit.
Cyprus
Cyprus offers the quickest route to citizenship of a European country in only six months. An investment of €2m in real estate is required, making it the highest priced programme in Europe.
Malta
The Malta citizenship by investment programme is lengthy and investors are required to contribute sums as donations to the Maltese government. The applicant must either contribute at least €650,000 to the National Development & Social Fund. Spouses and children are required to contribute €25,000; unmarried children between 18 and 25 and dependent parents must contribute €50,000 each.
The second step is to make an investment in property of at least €350,000 or enter a property rental contract for at least €16,000 per annum for five years. The third step is to invest at least €150,000 in bonds or shares approved by the Maltese government to be kept for at least five years.
Candidates must commit to a minimum physical presence in Malta before citizenship is granted. While you get residency in two months, you can apply for citizenship after a year.
Egypt
A one-year residency permit can be bought if you purchase property in Egypt worth $100,000. A three-year residency is available for those who invest $200,000 in property, and five years for those who purchase property worth $400,000.
Source: Citizenship Invest and Aqua Properties
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
