At least seven inmates have died and dozens more were injured in a fire that engulfed a prison in the northern Syrian town of Kobane. The blaze reportedly started on Saturday following riots by inmates amid escalating tensions in the predominantly Kurdish city. State-run news agency SANA reported that the injured suffered burns or smoke inhalation.

The incident highlights ongoing divisions in Syria, even after the ousting of former leader Bashar al-Assad in December 2024 and the subsequent integration agreement between the Syrian government and the country's Kurdish community. The prison in Kobane is currently administered by Kurdish authorities and has not yet been handed over to the central government.

According to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the riot began overnight after authorities decided to move some prisoners to a facility in Aleppo. This decision reportedly sparked the unrest. The riots and subsequent fire are believed to be linked to protests that erupted in Kobane on Friday concerning the killing of Sami Sheikhmous Hiso, a former Kurdish fighter.

Hiso's body was returned to Kobane on Thursday, bearing what AFP news agency described as gunshot wounds. Demonstrations against his death on Friday turned violent, resulting in arrests, according to Kurdish news outlet Rudaw. Rudaw also reported that some of those arrested and held in the prison were involved in the subsequent riot and fire.

Syrian presidential adviser Mazloum Abdi, formerly the leader of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), arrived in Kobane on Saturday. He has been engaged in meetings with senior officials in the town. Abdi's appointment as presidential adviser followed his announcement last month regarding the dissolution of the SDF, a Kurdish-led armed coalition.

The integration agreement reached in January saw Kurdish civilian and military institutions incorporated into the Syrian state. However, the situation in Kobane suggests that challenges remain in fully unifying the country under the new administration led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who has pledged an inclusive government.

While state media reported the riots as the cause of the blaze, the official confirmation of the fire's exact origin is still pending. The events underscore the complex security landscape in northern Syria, where local authorities and emerging national governance structures are still navigating post-conflict realities.

Further details regarding the number of injured, the specific circumstances of the inmate transfer, and the ongoing investigation into Hiso's death are expected to emerge as authorities continue to address the situation in Kobane.