ALEPPO, Syria — Tensions are escalating between Syrian regime forces and Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Hasakah province in northeast Syria.
Clashes broke out in the city of Qamishli on Jan. 23 between the regime-affiliated National Defense Forces and the SDF-affiliated internal security forces known as Asayish. The National Defense Forces in Qamishli blamed the SDF for the clashes in a Facebook post, saying, “Some people were shooting in the air to celebrate a wedding that was taking place near the positions of the Syrian army. Following that, the Asayish shot at the Syrian army checkpoints in the area, which prompted an immediate response [from the army].”