Syria’s Hasakah witnesses heavy gunfire
HASAKAH, Syria (North Press) – Heavy gunfire was heard, on Monday evening, in the vicinity of al-Sina’a Prison in the Guweiran neighborhood, south Hasakah, northeast Syria.
The shooting came after hours of a cautious calm during which the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) targeted the positions of the Islamic State Organization (ISIS) in the vicinity of the prison.
The targeting of ISIS positions by the SDF coincided with a flight of helicopters of the US-led Global Coalition, during which they dropped light bombs in the vicinity of the prison.
Since January 20, the vicinity of al-Sina’a prison in the city of Hasakah has witnessed intermittent clashes between the SDF and ISIS cells, against the background of an attack launched by ISIS cells in an attempt to achieve a successful mass escape of the detainees.
Earlier today, the SDF Media Center announced the surrender of 300 ISIS members who took part in the insurrection of the al-Sina’a prison in Guweiran neighborhood.
“As a result of the raid, our forces retook control of one of the buildings, and about 300 ISIS terrorists surrendered,” the SDF Media Center said.
“The operation against ISIS is continuing according to the established plan,” it added.
Also today, Special Unites of the SDF arrested 100 ISIS members while the SDF stormed al-Sina’a prison in Guweiran neighborhood, a source of the US-led Global Coalition said.
“Those who surrendered and arrested by the SDF where former inmates and tried to escape from the prison while launching the attacks by ISIS sleeper cells on January 20 and during the unrest the area witnessed over the past four days,” the source told North Press.
Last night, the SDF General Command said the combing campaign in Guweiran neighborhood will go on in search of three members of ISIS cells who involved in the attack of January 20.
ISIS threat grows
For its part, the Syrian Democratic Council (SDC) stressed that the threat of ISIS grows in northeast Syria’s areas.
Although the SDF and the Internal Security Forces of North and East Syria (Asayish), supported by the Global Coalition, hold their responsibilities regarding ISIS members and their families, the conspiracy by the neighboring countries continue against the AANES, the SDC noted.
The SDC called for excluding areas of northeastern Syria from international sanctions and supporting them economically, and providing infrastructure rehabilitation capabilities, to provide job opportunities for people and keep them away from radical ideology.
It also called on the international community to deal more seriously with the terrorism issue, starting with bringing detainees to trial and ending with rehabilitation process.
The statement called on the United Nations to focus on removing the siege on north and east Syria, by opening an official crossing to deliver humanitarian aid to the region.
In its statement, the SDC also called on NATO countries, Russia and the UN to put an end to the Turkish violations against the Syrian territories and targeting the area with artillery and drones.
It called on the international community to support them in order to get rid of radical groups in the occupied areas, in reference to the Syrian opposition factions affiliated with Turkey.
The SDC further explained in its statement some countries, including Turkey, continued supporting ISIS, and that the Syrian territories which are controlled by Turkey are actually under the control of ISIS, not the opposition factions.
“It became clear that targeting al-Sina’a prison was planned in Sere Kaniye and Tel Abyad with the support of groups coming from the Iraqi border.”
The SDC also accused Turkey of distracting public opinion and distracting the SDF from the battles of al-Sina’a prison in Hasakah by targeting civilians in the villages of Ain Issa town.
Turkey is responsible
The AANES said the Turkish government bears responsibility for the latest attacks on al-Sina’a prison that holds ISIS members in Guweiran neighborhood in Hasakah city.
The General Council for AANES released a statement saying “the mentality that Turkey rules and controls with is but desires on the spur of the moment and of territorial and aggressive ambitious that targets both the land and the human beings in Syria, most notably in northeast Syria”.
“Turkey has worked, day and night, through its mercenaries who has ISIS ideology to destabilize and strike security in Syria. Turkey attempted to thwart the project of the democratic autonomous administration in northeast Syria,” the statement added.
Turkey, so to consolidate control over Hasakah and ensure a terrorist corridor passing from Tel Tamr to Hawl Camp and to the Iraqi territories, has trained “mercenaries” in designated camps in Ras al-Ain and Tel Abyad and sent them to Guweiran neighborhoods to attack the al-Sina’a prison.