After rumor following a fight among Asayish members | Residents flee from areas near security zone in Al-Hasakah for fear of expected clashes

Al-Hasakah Province – Syrian Observatory for Human Rights: Reliable sources have informed SOHR that a fight broke out among several members of the Internal Security Forces (Asayish) near “Essam Baghdi Hospital”, and evolved to live gunfire in the air.

 

Two young men in military uniform came later to the outdoors market in Al-Bala street and informed residents that SDF were storming the security zone in Al-Hasakah city, which spurred people to flee from the market.

 

A few hours ago, SOHR sources reported that several families living near the frontlines between Asayish-held areas and regime-held areas in the cities of Al-Hasaka and Al-Qamishli, started to leave their homes for fear of expected clashes between the two sides, along with ongoing siege imposed by “Asayish” on the security zones where the regime forces are present. It is worth noting that Asayish Forces allowed civilians to enter and exit the two cities only on foot.

 

Yesterday, SOHR sources said that tension was underway between the Internal Security Forces (Asayish) and regime forces, along with ongoing siege by Asayish Forces on regime positions and security zones in Al-Qamishli and Al-Hasakah cities.

 

SOHR sources monitored security alertness by Asayish Forces which blocked main roads and bypasses leading to regime positions, as well as blocking Amuda road in Al-Qamishly city, as regime military post is located nearby. This development came as a part of clamping down on regime forces stationed in the security zone in the city.

 

A few days earlier, SOHR activists said that the Internal Security Forces “Asayish” continued to prevent food and goods from entering the security zone in Al-Hasakah city and imposed a fine on anyone who violated this decision.

 

This development came in response to regime forces practices, as they prevented food and fuel from entering the northern countryside of Aleppo and areas of Al-Shahba’a within areas held by Kurdish forces.

 

According to SOHR sources, the joint forces of the 4th Division and “State Security Branch” stationed at the checkpoint of Awared rigorously inspected passers by, including women and children, repressing these residents who are SDF’s “popular base” in the region.

 

SOHR sources also monitored dozens of employees of the regime’s government departments, staging a vigil outside the justice palace building in the city of Hasakeh, in protest against the continued siege imposed by “Al-Asaish” for the fifth day in a row on the neighbourhoods controlled by the regime in the area of the “security zone”, by preventing the entry of goods and food.

 

Meanwhile, a state of calm was prevailing Al-Hasakah and Al-Qamishly cities, amid ongoing military alertness in the region and regime’s security zone, as both sides were erecting soil barriers and being put on high alert.

 

On January 10, SOHR activists monitored security tension between the Internal Security Forces (Asayish) and he regime forces stationed at the airport of al-Qamishli city, as members of Asayish Forces arrested three top regime officers and several other soldiers.

 

This incident came after tense calm in Al-Qamishli city for days in the wake of defusing conflict between regime forces and Asayish Forces.

 

It is worth noting that military forces were deployed at the junction to Al-Qamishli airbase and near Al-Tayy and Halko neighbourhoods. Moreover, checkpoints and security members were deployed near the city’s entrances and the surrounding areas of the security zone.

 

On the other hand, residents in the city were informed to stay away security checkpoints and windows, at a time when several families were seen leaving the neighbourhoods where security tension was growing.

 

Also, the market of Al-Qamishli city was closed due to the escalating security alertness and clashes which left four regime soldiers injured, while snipers were stationed on houses’ roofs.