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Syrian government, Kurdish forces end dispute in Qamishli

The clashes between the Syrian government-affiliated forces and Kurdish security forces ended in Syria's northeast city of Qamishli after reaching an agreement between the two parties under Russian auspices.

Members of the Syrian Kurdish internal security services known as Asayish and Syrian government forces man a checkpoint in Tayy neighbourhood in the northeastern city of Qamishli, after the implementation of a Russian-brokered cease-fire agreement, Syria, April 27, 2021.
Members of the Syrian Kurdish internal security services known as Asayish and Syrian government forces man a checkpoint in Tayy neighbourhood in the northeastern city of Qamishli, after the implementation of a Russian-brokered cease-fire agreement, Syria, April 27, 2021. — Delil Souleiman/AFP via Getty Images

Clashes broke out April 20 in neighborhoods of Qamishli, between the Asayish internal security forces affiliated with the Kurdish-led Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria and the National Defense Forces, which includes fighters loyal to the Syrian government and is receiving support from Iranian militias. The fighting began after Khaled al-Hajji, an Asayish security official, was killed in an attack by members of the National Defense Forces at a military checkpoint near al-Wahda roundabout, close to the Tayy neighborhood, in southern Qamishli. The Asayish responded and targeted several National Defense Forces checkpoints in the same neighborhood, and managed to kill three members and arrest others.

Several rounds of negotiations were held in Qamishli to end the clashes between the two sides, with the presence of representatives of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Asayish, along with Syrian and Russian officers. A temporary truce was agreed upon, starting April 23 at 7 p.m. until April 24 at 10 a.m.

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