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Siege of Qamishli and Al-Hasakah

Siege of Qamishli and Al-Hasakah
Part of the Rojava conflict and the Syrian Civil War
Date10 January – 2 February 2021
(3 weeks and 2 days)
Location
Qamishli and Al-Hasakah, Syria
Result

Kurdish Asayish victory

  • Siege lifted
Belligerents
 Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria Syria Syrian Arab Republic
Units involved

Asayish police

YPG		 Syrian police
National Defense Force
 Syrian Army
Casualties and losses
None 2 killed[1][2]
7 wounded[3][1]
3 captured[4]
6 civilians wounded[1]

The siege of Qamishli and Al-Hasakah was a siege laid upon Baathist Syrian government-controlled areas of the towns of Qamishli and Al-Hasakah by the Asayish forces of the AANES. The siege was allegedly enacted in response to the restrictions of exclusively SDF-controlled areas of the Shahba region and the restriction of movement and supplies to the YPG-controlled neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh in Aleppo by the Syrian government.[5]

The siege was mainly centered in the "Hasakah Security Box," and the neighborhoods of Halko and al-Tayy in Qamishli,[6] preventing the entry of forces loyal to the Syrian government as well as supplies and fuel to the areas.[7] The siege began on 10 January 2021 after the two sides failed to reach an agreement regarding a wide range of issues, including release of AANES prisoners.[8][7]

Siege

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On 10 January, Asayish forces began blocking the arrival of food, supplies, water tanks, students and workers to the towns. 3 high ranking Syrian Army officers were arrested in Hasakah. Demands were made to the Damascus government for the release 450 Syrian Democratic Forces prisoners, the withdrawal of SAA forces from AANES-controlled areas, and the provision of social guarantees, medical services and education.[4][9]

On 23 January, clashes erupted between the two sides, resulting in 6 pro-government fighters being injured.[3] The National Defence Forces (NDF) claimed that one of their checkpoints had been attacked, while the Asayish claimed that the NDF had attacked one of their checkpoints. Clashes resumed that night leading to injuries, with activists claiming one NDF militiaman was killed in the clashes.[2]

On 31 January, Asayish opened fire on a pro-government vigil in Hasakah that was condemning the siege, killing one policeman and injuring one other policeman and six civilians.[1]

On 2 February, government forces and the Asayish reached an agreement. The siege of the government-held neighborhoods in Qamishli and Hasakah were lifted,[10] and the two sides began to forge a deal to end the government restrictions in Aleppo city and the countryside.[11]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d "For 22th day in a row, "Asayish" continues sieging regime in al-Hasakeh city, and tightening its siege on regime in al-Qamishli". SOHR. 1 February 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  2. ^ a b "توتر جديد بين "قسد" والنظام في القامشلي.. روسيا تتدخل". عنب بلدي (in Arabic). 2021-01-24. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  3. ^ a b "المرصد السوري لحقوق الانسان: إشتباكات بين قوات النظام ووحدات الأسايش الكردية في القامشلي". SOHR. 24 January 2021. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  4. ^ a b ""الأسايش" تعتقل عناصر و 3 ضباط برتبة عالية من قوات النظام في ريف الحسكة.. وقوات النظام تستنفر في مدينة القامشلي". SOHR. 10 January 2021. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  5. ^ al-Khateb, Khaled (2021-01-27). "Russia uses regime-SDF tensions to expand presence in northeast Syria". Al-Monitor. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  6. ^ "بين خصمين.. أهالي حيي حلكو وطي في القامشلي تحت الحصار". عنب بلدي (in Arabic). 2021-01-19. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  7. ^ a b "لفك الحصار وإدخال المواد الغذائية إلى الأحياء السكنية.. مئات المواطنين يتظاهرون في مدينة الحسكة وسط تزايد الاستياء الشعبي في المنطقة". SOHR. 27 January 2021. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  8. ^ al-Khatab, Khaled (27 January 2021). "Russia uses regime-SDF tensions to expand presence in northeast Syria". Al-Monitor. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  9. ^ "Поддерживаемые США курдские формирования, начали блокаду сирийских городов Подробнее на". avia.pro. 28 January 2021. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  10. ^ WRAL (2021-02-02). "Kurds end siege of government-held areas in northeast Syria". WRAL.com. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  11. ^ "Asayish announces 'return to normal life' in Syria's Hasakah and Qamishli". North press agency. 2021-02-02. Retrieved 2021-02-02.


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