ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Internal Security Forces (Asayish) of northeast Syria (Rojava) announced that they had reached a permanent truce with pro-regime forces after days of deadly clashes.
The forces said in an official statement that they are committed to the truce, which was brokered by Russia, unless the National Defense Forces (NDF) break it.
Clashes broke out between Asayish and pro-regime National Defense Forces (NDF) in Qamishli on Tuesday night. Late on Friday, the Asayish announced they had reached a temporary ceasefire with the NDF after the intervention of the Kurdish-led SDF and Russians, who are mediating the talks.
Kurdish forces have largely avoided confrontation with the regime over the decade of conflict in Syria. Clashes have occasionally broken out between them, however, including between the Asayish and NDF in February in Qamishli and Hasaka.
This week, the Asayish took control of parts of al-Tai neighbourhood, one of several pockets of control that the regime has maintained in Rojava. The Asayish on Saturday released photos of their forces inside the neighborhood.
The statement said that people in the neighborhood, who left their homes due to the clashes, can return to their homes, after checking with the Asayish to ensure their safety.
"We in the Internal Security Forces of northern and eastern Syria, affirm that protecting the people is one of our duties and priorities, and that the people of the al-Tai neighborhood are an essential part of the city of Qamishli.”
The main opposition group in Rojava, the Kurdish National Council (ENKS), had called for an end to the hostilities, saying they have put the civilian population at risk: “Thousands of families were displaced from the neighborhood to safer places, and many civilians in the neighborhood and neighboring neighborhoods fell as martyrs and were injured by indiscriminate bombardments.”
The United States had offered to help de-escalate the situation.
