As Syrians vote in regime areas, Kurdish authorities close crossings
The Syrian Democratic Forces closed the crossings connecting their areas in northeast Syria to government-held areas to prevent the participation of the areas' inhabitants in the Syrian presidential elections.
On May 24, the Kurdish-led autonomous administration in north and east Syria announced in a statement that it was shutting the land and maritime crossings with Syrian government-controlled areas to prevent residents from taking part in the presidential elections held May 26. The autonomous administration said only ambulances were allowed to go through the crossings.
The decision was issued a few hours after the Syrian Democratic Council, the political wing of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), announced in a statement that it would not take part in the elections or facilitate them.
