Kurds clash with Syrian government security in Hasaka

HASAKA, Syrian Kurdistan (Kurdistan24) – On Wednesday, violent clashes erupted between the Kurdish internal security forces (Asayish) and Syrian government security in the city of Hasaka, northeastern Syria.

A Kurdistan24 correspondent in Hasaka said that heavy clashes broke out early in the morning when the Syrian government troops tried to interfere in the process of high school final exams taking place in the Kurdish-controlled areas of the city. 

The Kurdish security forces told Kurdistan24 that they responded to what they called “Syrian government forces blatant interference.” 

The Asayish reported that two civilians were killed, five others wounded, and a vehicle was set on fire amid the ongoing clashes in the Kurdish-held area of the city. The identities of the victims have not been revealed yet.

Kurdish Asayish sources said the clashes occurred because the government forces tried to stir trouble around several exam centers.

“The high school exams are public unified national exams that are held in schools all over the country at the same time,” Kurdish Asayish sources informed.

“The exam centers are guarded by government security, but in the Kurdish-held areas of the city, the Asayish patrols the exam halls,” the Asayish sources added.

“Government forces and pro-government militias always try to spoil any educational process in the Kurdish areas, and today they made noise around the exam centers and harassed the Kurdish security guards,” the security continued.   

Syrian government forces could not be reached for comment.

Hasaka is the capital of the surrounding province of the same name. The city is under the shared control of the government forces and the Kurdish forces (Asayish and YPG).

Some professional institutions in the city are still operating and are funded by the Syrian government. This includes the Public Directorate of Education, the Justice Palace, Directorate of Migration and Passport Issuance, and many other public departments.

Reporting by Hisham Arafat

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany and Ava Homa