SDF-backed force to investigate Syrian government attack on its forces 

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF)-backed Tal Tamir Military Council on Tuesday said it will investigate a Syrian government attack on its forces near Tal Tamir countryside northwest of Hasakah.

On Tuesday, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) war monitor reported that the two sides exchanged fire with machine guns near a Syrian military post in the "Al-Kouzlia" area in the Tal Tamir countryside northwest of Hasakah.

Read More: SDF and Syrian forces clash in Tal Tamir in 'first-ever incident': SOHR

"Our relevant units have initiated an investigation into this provocative attack, and we will take appropriate action," the SDF-backed Tal Tamir Military Council said on Tuesday evening.

"At around 3:30 P.M., the regime forces conducted a provocative attack against our units in the vicinity of the Gozalia village, west of Tal Tamir," it added. 

"Our forces immediately responded to the attack and clashes erupted, resulting in the martyrdom of two of our fighters and one injured. Two regime soldiers were killed in the clashes and two others injured."

Pro-Syrian government forces and Kurdish forces have clashed several times in the past, especially in the towns of Hasakah and Qamishlo.

But the Syrian regime has largely tried to avoid tensions with the SDF and turned a blind eye to their control of Kurdish-populated cities since the 2011 Syrian uprising as it focused on fighting rebel factions seeking to topple President Bashar al-Assad.

In October 2019, the Syrian government forces entered Tal Tamir and other towns under a Moscow-backed agreement with the SDF following a Turkish offensive in the area. 

Despite this, tensions continued between Damascus and the SDF. Both sides have failed to reach an agreement on the future of local autonomy in northeastern Syria despite Russian mediation. 

Damascus has also shown discomfort with the continued US presence in the Hasakah and Deir al-Zor provinces.

In April 2021, the Asayish took control over the al-Tay neighborhood in Qamishlo city following several days of clashes with pro-government fighters. 

Read More: Syrian Kurdish-led forces take control of Qamishlo neighborhood after ceasefire

Furthermore, there have been tensions in Deir al-Zor between SDF-backed forces and the Syrian government over smuggling. 

Syrian government forces have also stopped coalition patrols from entering areas under their control in Hasakah province.

Read More: Syrian government forces stop US patrols in Hasakah province: SOHR

Syrian Foreign Minister and former Permanent Envoy to the United Nations Faisal Mekdad recently blamed the US for undermining talks between the Syrian government and the Syrian Kurds.

Read More: Syrian FM blames US for pressuring Syrian Kurds

Mazloum Abdi, the Commander-in-Chief of the SDF, told the Washington Institute's Project Fikra Forum in January that the Syrian government is not interested in resolving its differences with the SDF.

"Our relationships with the regime continue uninterrupted, and we want to resolve the differences between us. We have concluded that the [Bashar al-Assad] regime is not currently ready to reach solutions," Abdi said.