With Russia’s efforts to defuse the tension | Asayish Forces continue besieging regime forces in Al-Hasakah and Al-Qamishli for 15 days

Tense calm has been prevailing in Al-Hasakah and Al-Qamishli cities after the dramatic developments on Saturday. This calm coincides with ongoing tension and security alertness by regime forces and “National Defence Forces” (NDF) on one hand, and the Internal Security Forces (Asayish) on the other.

 

On the other hand, the Russians are attempting to reach an agreement between the two sides in order to put an end to the tension in the area and the siege imposed by Asayish Forces on the regime forces stationed in the security zone in Al-Hasakah, which started 15 days ago.

 

On Saturday, SOHR activists documented the injury of six members of the regime-backed “National Defence Forces” (NDF), one of whom sustained serious injuries in clashes between NDF and Asayish Forces in Al-Qamishi city. These clashes coincided with displacement of residents to safer places in the city’s northern neighbourhoods.

 

Meanwhile, Asayish Forces blocked the roads to Al-Qamishli airbase, Tayy alley and Halku neighbourhood in Al-Qamishli city, and brought in military reinforcement to positions near the conflict zones.

 

SOHR sources reported earlier that day that the cities of al-Hasakeh and al-Qamishli were witnessing tension along with ongoing alertness, as the Internal Security Forces “Asayish” continueed imposing a siege on the neighbourhoods controlled by the Syrian regime in both cities, where the security zones are located, for the 13th day in a row. While the residents were allowed to enter and exit these neighbourhoods but only on foot.

 

According to Syrian Observatory sources, Russian forces continued their efforts to defuse the dispute between the “Autonomous Administration” of the northern and eastern regions of Syria and regime forces, but these efforts failed.

 

On January 20, reliable sources informed SOHR that several meetings were held, after Russian mediations, with the aim to reach understandings between regime forces and the “Autonomous Administration”. However, no agreements were reached.

 

According to SOHR sources, the Internal Security Forces (Asayish) continued their security procedures near regime positions in the security zones in Al-Hasakah and Al-Qamishily cities, as Asayish Forces were clamping down on regime forces stationed their for the tenth consecutive day.

 

Meanwhile, the “Autonomous Administration” was calling to lift the siege imposed on the people of Al-Shahbaa, Al-Ashrafiyyah and Sheikh Maqsoud in Aleppo, as the 4th Division forces and members of the regime’s intelligence services were encircling these areas.

 

SOHR sources reported earlier 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.