ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Hasaka Governor Nour al-Din Ahmed on Friday blamed individuals and groups opposed to the integration agreement between the Kurdish administration in northeast Syria (Rojava) and the Syrian government for the latest unrest in the province.
His remarks came amid rising tensions in Hasaka city, where pro-government protesters have attacked Kurdish symbols, prompting counter-protests by Kurdish residents.
The unrest began on Thursday when pro-government protesters, mainly from the Gweran neighborhood, gathered at Freedom Roundabout in central Hasaka. They initially chanted pro-Damascus slogans and called for the full restoration of state sovereignty over the province, but later began desecrating Kurdish symbols and removed a multilingual sign at the roundabout.
State-affiliated security forces intervened and dispersed the protesters. However, when Kurdish residents staged a counter-protest later that evening, security forces forcibly dispersed them. Footage shared by the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) showed security forces firing into the air to disperse the crowd. Some reports claimed that live ammunition was used, but Rudaw English could not independently verify this.
Arab protesters renewed their demonstrations on Friday, attacking Kurdish symbols, including an image of a braid, which has recently become a symbol of resistance in Rojava. The situation was later reportedly brought under control.
Ahmed told Rudaw's Viviyan Fetah on Friday that the protesters were not only from Gweran but also from other areas, accusing opponents of the agreement between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Damascus of inciting the unrest.
"The protests are not limited to the Gweran neighborhood. We have been monitoring the situation for a while. Some figures and parties oppose the agreement [between the SDF and Damascus] and do not want it to be implemented. So they have sought to play with the emotions of the community by finding pretexts to mobilize the public," he said.
Ahmed said authorities had held meetings with Arab and Kurdish figures to prevent tensions, adding that Thursday's Syrian flag-raising ceremony was intended as a goodwill gesture to demonstrate progress in the integration process.
A large Syrian flag was raised at Freedom Roundabout during the ceremony, attended by dozens of residents, officials and lawmakers.
The governor also accused opponents of the SDF integration agreement of seeking to undermine the process.
“They have been working since the signing of the agreement to make sure that the agreement is not implemented by creating tensions. They spend 24 hours thinking how to move the emotions of the public,” he said.
Ahead of his interview with Rudaw, Ahmed, a Kurd appointed by the SDF and approved by Damascus as part of the integration agreement, urged residents of the province to "exercise reason and show restraint."
"To ensure that your voices remain heard and strong, we must all preserve the peaceful nature of these demonstrations. Vandalizing property or engaging in confrontations does not serve your cause. Rather, it diverts attention from your legitimate demands and undermines the security of society," he added.
Syrian state-run news agency SANA reported that Friday's protesters had called for "the swift extension of state sovereignty and the activation of all government institutions and public services across the province."
According to SOHR, protesters on Friday assaulted security personnel and attacked the city's bar association.
"These developments have been accompanied by restrictions on movement between several Hasaka neighborhoods, with protesters prevented from reaching predominantly Kurdish areas. Civilian groups have called for demonstrations to be kept under control, attacks to be prevented, and property and symbols representing the city's ethnic and cultural diversity to be protected," the watchdog added.
SDF chief Mazloum Abdi announced the completion of the integration of his forces into the Syrian army on August 20 and dissolved the SDF several days later. He was subsequently appointed a presidential envoy by Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa.
Speaking at an event in Hasaka province on Friday, Abdi vowed not to retreat from the integration process.
“We will not take a step backward, and we will not allow discord to be instigated. We will thwart attempts by those seeking to sow discord among the region’s communities, because we believe in peace and work toward it,” North Press Agency, which is believed to be close to Abdi, quoted him as saying.
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