ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Internal Security Forces (Asayish) confirmed on Tuesday that they had made a number of arrests in Hasaka city, northeast Syria (Rojava) for inciting chaos during a temporary curfew imposed to ensure the safe entry of state-affiliated forces into the city as part of an integration agreement.
In a statement, the Asayish said their forces in Hasaka were carrying out their duties to secure the entry of state-affiliated internal security forces - as part of the implementation of the recent agreement between Damascus and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) - when the convoy was attacked.
“The convoy came under direct fire from terrorist cells in an attempt to undermine security and stability and incite chaos in the region,” the Asayish said. “Our forces acted immediately and responsibly to ensure the safety of the convoy and protect civilians,” the statement read, adding that the source of the fire was engaged and that several suspects were arrested.
“These operations resulted in the arrest of several members of those cells, and investigations are currently ongoing,” the statement said, noting that the 12-hour curfew was imposed as a precautionary measure “to block the movements of terrorist cells and prevent the exploitation of the situation to destabilize security.”
According to the Asayish, the mission was completed “without any recorded damage or injuries among civilians.”
Videos circulated on social media on Monday purported that some people violated the curfew to welcome the state forces. Some even used gunshots in the reception. Several pro-government social media users claimed that Asayish “crackdown” on people resulted in at least one injury and the arrest of at least 26.
The statement added that one Asayish fighter was wounded “while performing his duty to protect security and stability; he is currently receiving the necessary medical treatment.”
A convoy of around 15 vehicles carrying about 100 state-affiliated internal security personnel arrived in Hasaka on Monday, while another convoy reached the besieged town of Kobane the same day. Another one is expected to arrive in Qamishli soon.
The broader agreement, brokered with the involvement of international powers including France and the United States, stipulates the integration of the Asayish into Syria’s interior ministry and follows weeks of clashes between SDF forces and Damascus-affiliated troops.
While Kurdish officials say the deployment of state forces is temporary and focused on integration, the Syrian government has not said how long the forces will remain in Rojava. The deal also comes after a major offensive earlier this month that displaced tens of thousands of civilians, most of them Kurds, according to United Nations estimates.
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