Calm Returns to Qamishli after Tension between Regime, Kurdish Forces

Statue of Basel al-Assad, brother of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, in Qamishli (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Statue of Basel al-Assad, brother of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, in Qamishli (Asharq Al-Awsat)
TT

Calm Returns to Qamishli after Tension between Regime, Kurdish Forces

Statue of Basel al-Assad, brother of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, in Qamishli (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Statue of Basel al-Assad, brother of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, in Qamishli (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Tensions have eased in the northeastern Syrian city of Qamishili after Russian forces intervened following clashes between pro-regime and Kurdish forces.

The Russian forces, deployed in the vicinity of the city's airport, brokered an agreement to release all detainees and end the fighting.

Qamishli is controlled by various forces. The regime maintains a security zone inside the city along the international airport, while the Kurdish Autonomous Administration controls the Qamishli region.

Locals reported tension on Monday between the regime and the Kurdish Asayish forces against the backdrop of mutual arrests.

Military forces were seen on high alert and deployed along separation lines, including Qaddour Beik, al-Jisr al-Jadid, and the western part of the security zone.

Asaad, 45, who works in a pastry shop in Qamishli, said tensions prevailed in the area and there was an unusual heavy deployment of military units, noting that many streets and neighborhoods were closed.

He also reported that security forces asked civilians and residents to avoid the central market area.

Kurdish security sources said that the tension grew after the Syrian regime detained one of their members. The Kurds responded by arresting Syrian troops after they refused mediations to release the detainees.

The Russian military police repeatedly intervene to maintain stability in the city.

In December, tensions renewed after mutual arrests between the Asayish and the regime forces, but Moscow succeeded in releasing all detainees.

Earlier, three officers and a brigadier general of the General Air Force Intelligence Service at the airport were arrested, which led to tensions in the area.

In response, the General Air Force Intelligence arrested a number of civilians and employees of the Autonomous Administration on charges of failing to perform compulsory government service.

As a result, military forces were deployed at the junction leading to the airport and at the entrances to al-Tayy and Halko neighborhoods.

They also established checkpoints near the exits of the security zone, amid warnings for residents to stay away from the checkpoints and windows.

Medical sources said that four members of the regime forces were injured.

Zainab, a resident of the security zone, said the area falls under the control of regime troops. However, the Autonomous Administration controls everything.

The Arab Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), backed by Washington, control most of the city and its commercial center. They are based in government departments and institutions. Whereas the regime forces, including the Moscow-backed National Defense forces, control the security zone, Qamishli airport, and the regiment 137.

In addition, the Sutoro forces control the Christian neighborhoods in the city. The militias are divided in their affiliations, with some belonging to the Kurds and others to the regime.

Each military force determined its areas of control with earth mounds, sand bags, and checkpoints.

Civilians move easily from one neighborhood to another without inspections or identity papers. Vehicles with Autonomous Administration plates enter regime areas and streets under the control of the Sutoro Forces without any trouble. In return, regime members and their vehicles roam freely in the rest of the city.



Lebanon to Increase Army Personnel Ahead of Possible Deployment South of Litani

Prime Minister Najib Mikati chairing the cabinet meeting (Photo: The Prime Minister’s office)
Prime Minister Najib Mikati chairing the cabinet meeting (Photo: The Prime Minister’s office)
TT

Lebanon to Increase Army Personnel Ahead of Possible Deployment South of Litani

Prime Minister Najib Mikati chairing the cabinet meeting (Photo: The Prime Minister’s office)
Prime Minister Najib Mikati chairing the cabinet meeting (Photo: The Prime Minister’s office)

The Lebanese government has approved funding to recruit 1,500 new military personnel in the Lebanese Army as part of an initiative to increase military presence along the southern border, amid Israel’s ongoing hostilities.
The funds will be provided to the Ministry of Defense as an advance, a decision highlighted by the Minister of Information for its political and international significance, particularly in relation to implementing United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701.
Prime Minister Najib Mikati in the caretaker government emphasized that continued and escalating Israeli attacks on Lebanon amount to crimes against humanity. He stated that a primary pathway to a resolution involves halting hostilities against the country, fully implementing Resolution 1701, and electing a new president to restore institutional order, stability, and initiate reconstruction.

Mikati condemned what he described as an international failure to stop Israel’s actions against Lebanon, which include attacks on towns and villages, civilian deaths, and strikes against medical and relief personnel.
“We condemn and hold the international community responsible for the continuation of Israel’s genocidal war on Lebanon, its destruction of towns and villages, killing of civilians, assassination of army personnel, and targeting of medical teams, civil defense, relief teams, and journalists.
“Additionally, the attacks on UNIFIL, which represents international legitimacy, make targeting UNIFIL an assault on the international community and the Security Council. This destruction continues to affect hospitals, schools, and educational centers,” stated Mikati.
On the international front, Mikati highlighted the solidarity shown by world figures, referring to his discussions with leaders like Jordan’s King Abdullah, France’s President Emmanuel Macron, and Britain’s Prime Minister. This was further demonstrated during the Paris Conference in Support of Lebanon -late on October- he underlined, specifically thanking France for its humanitarian efforts and military support.
But he added: “But unfortunately, Israel is blatantly disregarding all international efforts to achieve a ceasefire.”
The prime minister reiterated Lebanon’s stance on safeguarding its dignity and sovereignty across air, sea, and land, pledging to confront any Israeli violations.
Following the cabinet meeting, Minister of Information Ziad Makari assured that funds to recruit 1,500 additional soldiers are available and that the government encountered no issues regarding this allocation.
Nasser Yassin, the government’s Emergency Committee coordinator, announced that the cabinet approved fuel allocations for 541 shelters in mountainous regions over 300 meters in altitude to ensure winter heating. Yassin also detailed efforts concerning the people displaced as the result of the Israeli hostilities in Lebanon.
He highlighted that there are 44,000 families in 1,138 shelters and an additional 147,000 families housed within communities.