The cities of Qamishli and al-Hasakah, in northeastern Syria, witnessed security tension on Saturday evening, marked by the storming of premises belonging to government Internal Security Forces in Qamishli, vandalism of some vehicles, and the burning of Syrian flags, alongside similar attempts targeting security headquarters in al-Hasakah, according to Enab Baladi’s correspondent in the governorate.
According to the correspondent, local groups linked to the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) stormed several security headquarters in Qamishli, causing material damage amid a state of security alert in the city, accompanied by the deployment of security patrols in several main neighborhoods.
Enab Baladi’s correspondent also said another group lowered the Syrian flag from atop the Qamishli airport building, a step that heightened tensions and sparked mixed reactions amid growing public and media anger.
In response, the Asayish forces affiliated with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) sealed off the government security enclave in Qamishli and deployed intensive patrols around the government Internal Security Forces headquarters in al-Hasakah, in an attempt to contain the situation and prevent further escalation.
Background to the tension: the Kobani incident
These developments come in the wake of the lowering of the Syrian flag during Nowruz celebrations in the city of Ain al-Arab (Kobani) (in eastern Aleppo countryside, northern Syria), an incident that triggered a broad wave of anger on social media and was accompanied by calls for protests in several Syrian areas.
The incident was also followed by assaults on Kurdish citizens in the city of Aleppo and its countryside, further heightening tension between local communities and raising fears that social unrest could spread more widely.
In the city of Afrin (in northern Aleppo countryside, northwestern Syria), Internal Security Forces were heavily deployed following angry protests denouncing the insult to the Syrian flag, amid efforts to contain the situation and prevent further escalation.
Official warnings against escalation
In the first official comment, Aleppo Internal Security commander Mohammed Abdul Ghani stressed that tampering with state symbols, foremost among them the Syrian flag, is “a red line that cannot be tolerated under any circumstances.”
Abdul Ghani said the competent authorities “will not tolerate any assault on civilians or any attempt to undermine security and stability,” referring to the events in Ain al-Arab and Afrin.
For his part, al-Hasakah governor Nour al-Din Ahmed condemned what he described as “irresponsible behavior,” saying it undermines national unity and weakens cohesion among the components of Syrian society.
Ahmed called on citizens to act responsibly and respect national symbols, warning of the repercussions of such actions on public stability amid the sensitive security conditions in the region.
Meanwhile, Mahmoud Khalil, deputy director of Internal Security in al-Hasakah, known as Siyamend Efrîn, said the recent events came as a result of “an irresponsible act represented by lowering the Syrian flag,” and the repercussions that followed, which affected the dignity of several Kurdish citizens in Afrin and Aleppo.
Khalil said the security authorities are “closely following all developments,” while working to contain any repercussions in a way that preserves civil peace and protects stability.
He stressed that the dignity of citizens “is protected,” and that any problems are addressed through “responsible dialogue and serious follow-up,” calling for calm and giving de-escalation efforts room to work.
Presidential team rejects the attacks
Ahmed al-Hilali, spokesperson for the presidential team tasked with implementing the January agreement with the SDF, said the team has been following “with concern the unfortunate events linked to the attack on the republic’s flag in Ain al-Arab (Kobani) and the abuses that followed against civilians, especially in Afrin and Qamishli.”
Al-Hilali said the team condemns “any attack on national symbols, as well as the attack on the Internal Security headquarters in Qamishli,” while also stressing its rejection of “any retaliatory acts or attacks on civilians under any pretext.”
He added that the state, through its security and judicial institutions, “is the only body authorized to enforce the law and hold violators accountable,” calling on residents to “remain calm, exercise self-restraint, and not be drawn into strife.”
He also said that the path of integration and strengthening state institutions “is continuing and will not be affected by these incidents,” emphasizing the importance of wisdom, preserving stability, and strengthening national cohesion.
Calls to stop strife
In the same context, Syrian Deputy Defense Minister Samir Oso, known as Sipan Hemo, called for calm, saying that the attacks on Kurdish citizens in Aleppo and some of its surrounding areas came “against the backdrop of an individual incident.”
He said some parties “are waiting for such events to spread strife among the components of the Syrian people,” calling for commitment to a national spirit and rejecting escalation.
He added that those who lowered the Syrian flag in Kobani and those who attacked Kurdish citizens “belong to the same mentality that seeks division,” stressing the need to confront such behavior and work to strengthen peaceful coexistence.
Oso also stressed that the law “will take its course against everyone who insulted the Syrian flag or attacked citizens,” calling for respect for national symbols and the preservation of stability.
Autonomous Administration: an individual act
For her part, Ilham Ahmed, head of the Foreign Relations Department in the Autonomous Administration, said the lowering of the Syrian flag in Kobani was “an individual act,” calling against generalizing it to local communities.
Ahmed called on Kurds and Arabs to stay away from strife and preserve civil peace amid the rising tense rhetoric surrounding the recent events.
Fears of broader tension
These developments reflect a growing state of tension in northeastern Syria, amid fears that individual incidents could turn into broader confrontations given the social overlap and existing sensitivities among local communities.
At the same time, official and public calls for calm, self-restraint, and dialogue are increasing to avoid further deterioration, while different parties continue to stress the need to preserve civil peace and prevent any attempts to stir strife among Syrians.
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