A top Syrian Kurdish official said on Thursday that Turkish attacks weaken the ability of security forces in northeast Syria to guard prisons holding ISIS detainees.
Badran Jia Kurd told Reuters that this may lead to the escape of militants and that the number of prison guards is reduced as fighting with Turkey intensifies.
His remarks came after the Syrian Kurdish-led authorities accused Turkey of shelling a prison holding militants of more than 60 nationalities, calling this "a clear attempt" to help them escape.
There was no immediate comment from Turkey.
The shelling on Wednesday night targeted part of Chirkin prison in the city of Qamishli, the Kurdish-led authorities said in a statement.
"These attacks on prisons holding ISIS terrorists will lead to a catastrophe the consequences of which the world may not be able to handle later on," the statement said.
