Syrian Security Forces Enter Kurdish City of Qamishlo Under Agreement with Kurds
Syrian security forces began entering Qamishlo under an agreement with Kurdish parties, as President Ahmad al-Sharaa simultaneously reaffirmed constitutional guarantees for Kurdish rights during talks in Damascus.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - Syrian Interior Ministry forces entered the city of Qamishlo on Tuesday as part of the bilateral agreement between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Damascus government, with local internal security authorities imposing a full curfew to ensure a calm and orderly transition.
Under tightly coordinated security measures and amid visible symbols of Kurdish identity, Qamishlo witnessed the entry of Syrian Interior Ministry forces as the implementation of the SDF–Damascus agreement moved from paper to the streets of one of Western Kurdistan’s most sensitive urban centers.
On Tuesday, Syrian Interior Ministry forces entered the city of Qamishlo in Western Kurdistan within the framework of the bilateral agreement signed between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Damascus government.
The force consisted of fifteen military vehicles and one hundred twenty-five personnel. According to Kurdistan24 information from Qamishlo, the deployment was carried out in full coordination with the city’s Internal Security Forces (Asayish), which are affiliated with the SDF.
As a preventive measure aimed at avoiding any tension or unrest during the entry of the Syrian forces, a comprehensive curfew was imposed on Qamishlo and its surrounding areas starting at 6:00 a.m.
A Kurdistan24 correspondent reported that during the reception of a Syrian army force in Qamishlo, civilians raised the Kurdistan flag and chanted slogans in support of the resistance of Western Kurdistan.
The correspondent further confirmed that no heavy weapons were observed inside the city or its outskirts, and that no confrontations occurred between the Syrian Democratic Forces and forces affiliated with the Syrian government throughout the day.
The developments in Qamishlo coincided with political engagement in Damascus, where Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa met a delegation from the Kurdish National Council in Syria at the People’s Palace.
According to a statement issued by the Syrian Presidency, President al-Sharaa affirmed during the meeting the state’s commitment to guaranteeing the rights of Kurdish citizens within the framework of the constitution, stressing that these rights fall under the broader protection of citizenship.
For its part, the Kurdish National Council delegation welcomed Presidential Decree No. 13, describing it as an important step toward strengthening rights and preserving cultural and social specificity.
The meeting came as part of broader contacts between Syrian officials and the Kurdish National Council aimed at political dialogue and national unity, unfolding in parallel with the implementation of security arrangements on the ground in Western Kurdistan.
The entry of Syrian security forces into Qamishlo, alongside presidential assurances on constitutional rights, underscores a synchronized security and political track shaping a new phase in relations between Damascus and Kurdish representatives.
Updated on Feb. 3, 2025, at 6:02 pm.