Under Russia’s guarantee | Ceasefire reached in Al-Qamishli, while negotiations underway for reaching a final agreement between Asayish and NDF
Al-Hasakah Province – Syrian Observatory for Human Rights: SOHR sources have reported tense calm prevailing in Al-Qamishli city, amid cessation of clashes between the Internal Security Forces (Asayish) and the National Defence Forces (NDF) in Al-Tayy neighbourhood, as a ceasefire was reached between the two sides until this afternoon. Meanwhile, negotiations are underway with the aim to reach a final agreement, under Russian guarantees, putting an end to the security tension, which started in the area on Tuesday, and to reach a comprehensive agreement between Asayish Forces and NDF.
SOHR sources have suggested that the Russians may hand over NDF members who have been involved in the death of a member of Asaiysh Forces, and that Asayish Forces will not withdraw from the areas they have advanced into in Tayy neighbourhood.
Yesterday, SOHR sources reported renewed clashes with machineguns between the regime-backed “National Defense Forces” and Asayish Forces in the city of al-Qamishli, following an infiltration attempt by Asayish Forces into a school where NDF members were stationed in the neighbourhood of Tayy. According to SOHR sources, Asayish Forces managed to take over the headquarters and expel NDF members stationed in it. Meanwhile, Asayish Forces continued combing the neighbourhood in search for NDF members, but no casualties were reported.
SOHR sources had reported that the “National Defense Forces” deliberately targeted civilian areas and residential neighbourhoods, as they targeted, with several mortars, a residential area on Al-Masarif Street in the south of al-Qamishli in order to exert pressure on Asayish Forces to stop their attack and withdraw from the positions which they had advanced into. Meanwhile, sporadic clashes continued between the two sides in the neighbourhoods of al-Qamishli city, amid preparations by both sides, as “National Defense Forces” deployed snipers on the roofs of mosques, schools and high buildings in Tayy and Zanoud neighbourhoods in Al-Qamishli city in al-Hasakah countryside.
A few hours earlier, Observatory sources reported tense calm in Tayy neighbourhood, which is under the control of the regime-backed National Defence Forces (NDF) in Al-Qamishli city, interrupted by sporadic clashes between Asayish Forces and NDF. Meanwhile, Russia continued its diligent efforts to defuse the tension in the area, but no solutions were reached.
According to SOHR sources, a large number of the residents of Tayy neighbourhood displaced to safer areas, for fears of renewed clashes between the two sides.
SOHR sources reported earlier in the morning that the clashes between the Internal Security Forces (Asayish) and lasted from yesterday evening to this morning in Tayy neighbourhood in Al-Qamishli city in areas under the control of NDF. The clashes, which experienced the use of RPGs and light and medium weapons, expanded to Halkou neighbourhood, while Asayish Forces managed to capture the main street in Tayy neighbourhood and some of the recently-established checkpoints and posts of NDF in the same neighbourhood, amid confirmed reports of new casualties among NDF.
On the other hand, SOHR sources confirmed that tense calm was prevailing in the conflict zones, as negotiations were underway between Asayish Forces and NDF, after Russian mediation. During the negotiations, Asayish Forces conditioned the withdrawal of NDF from Al-Tayy neighbourhood in return for defusing the tension and the cessation of clashes. However, the outcomes of these negotiations remained unknown.
Last night, SOHR activists have documented the death of five NDF members and the injury of six others in the sporadic clashes in Al-Qamishli city, after Asayish Forces stormed Tayy neighbourhood, where regime forces and loyalists were stationed, and captured the main checkpoint of NDF.
On the other hand, Asayish Forces brought in new military reinforcement to Tayy neighbourhood and blocked the neighbourhood’s streets, amid raging clashes. According to SOHR sources, Asayish members opened fire on a vehicle belonging to NDF refused to stop at the checkpoint, which sparked security tension between the two sides. Moreover, Asayish Forces arrested several NDF members, which spurred NDF to attack checkpoint of Asayish Forces with machineguns, killing an Asayish member and injuring others.