Sere Kaniye return attacks trigger tensions in Syria’s Hasakah, Qamishli
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Tensions escalated in northeastern Syria on Monday after attacks on Kurdish families returning to Sere Kaniye (Ras al-Ain) city prompted protests and assaults on Internal Security Forces facilities in Hasakah and Qamishli.
More than 400 displaced families left Washokani Camp earlier Monday in the first convoy returning to Sere Kaniye and surrounding villages, marking the first phase of a long-awaited return after years of displacement.
Videos circulated on social media showed people attacking members of the convoy. Local reports quoted one returnee as saying that elderly people were among those assaulted.
The Sere Kaniye Displaced Persons Committee held authorities in Damascus, including the presidential team, as well as security authorities in Sere Kaniye and the regional administration responsible for the attacks, describing them as a violation of the Jan. 29 agreement on the return and protection of displaced people.
The committee called for restoring security, protecting returnees and arresting those responsible for the attacks.
The Internal Security Forces in Hasakah said they intervened to disperse a dispute in Sere Kaniye after several displaced families returned to their homes without prior coordination, triggering a dispute with current residents.
The forces denied reports that displaced families from Hasakah’s Guweiran neighborhood or the city had intervened to prevent returnees from entering their homes. They said the incident was being handled through legal procedures to safeguard the rights of returnees and the safety of all residents.
Following the developments, groups described by authorities as “outlawed” attacked several Internal Security Forces facilities in Hasakah and Qamishli.
In Hasakah, attackers removed and damaged the Syrian flag from one Internal Security Forces facility, while in Qamishli, other groups attacked security personnel and damaged several security vehicles, according to a statement issued by the authorities.
The Internal Security Forces subsequently reinforced their presence at several points in the two cities, saying the move aimed to contain tensions, maintain security and protect public and private property.
Dozens of protesters also gathered outside the Public Security Center in Hasakah and Qamishli to condemn the attacks against Sere Kaniye returnees, as authorities sought to prevent further escalation.
The return of displaced residents to Sere Kaniye has remained a sensitive issue amid disputes over security arrangements, property ownership and guarantees for the safe and dignified return of those displaced from the city and surrounding areas.