Security tension in Qamishli as Syrian government-affiliated gunmen fire on Asayish

Qamishli – North-Press Agency

Zana al-Ali

On Tuesday, the city of Qamishli, northeastern Syria experienced security tension between the Internal Security Forces (Asayish) and Syrian government-affiliated militants.

A field source stated to North Press that the tension began when members of the Syrian government's National Defense and supporters of the government started bringing members to a checkpoint near Bassem Ishaq School in Helko neighborhood in the southern side of the city as they opened fire on Asayish members.

According to the source, the Asayish took the initiative, which resulted in a clash that was lasted for about an hour, causing no casualties, while tension remains.

The area is witnessing a proliferation of Asayish forces, in conjunction with bringing military reinforcements by Syrian government forces.

At the beginning of this month, the city experienced a similar incident which took place after members of National Defense opened fire on a patrol of Asayish forces, causing casualties.

Two people were killed; one of them was a civilian and the other was a member of the Internal Security Forces (Asayish), in addition to the injury of two others, as a result of shooting by members of National Defense on two cars of the Asayish early this month.

At the time, sources from the Internal Security Forces told North Press that the incident took place after the members of the National Defense forces did not comply with the Asayish request to stop at a checkpoint in the city center.

However, in a statement on the incident, the general media center of the Internal Security Forces of North and East Syria said that members of the Syrian government forces had targeted a car of Asayish forces and other accompanying vehicles.