Syria: Curfews signal a major shift in the northeast

Syrian Kurdish security forces have announced temporary curfews in two major cities in the country’s northeast ahead of the implementation of a new agreement with the government in Damascus, signalling a major shift in control in the region, according to Asharq Al-Awsat on February 2nd.

Curfews will be imposed in Hasakeh on February 2nd and in Qamishli on February 3rd, from 6:00 am (0300 GMT) to 6:00 pm, Kurdish authorities said.

The measures come as both sides prepare to implement a deal reached on January 30th that will see Kurdish military and civilian institutions gradually integrated into the Syrian state.

The agreement follows recent advances by government forces into territory previously controlled by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). It maintains an ongoing ceasefire and outlines steps for cooperation after years of de facto Kurdish autonomy in northeast Syria.

Mazloum Abdi, head of the SDF, said implementation would begin on February 2, with both sides withdrawing from frontline positions in parts of the northeast, including the city of Kurdish-majority Kobane, also known as Ain al-Arab and Kobani.

He said limited internal security forces would enter areas of Hasakeh and Qamishli, but stressed that no military forces would be deployed inside Kurdish cities or towns.

Kurdish security officials said the curfews were aimed “to maintain security, stability and the safety of residents” during the transition. A source within the Kurdish forces added that a Syrian government security delegation visited their headquarters in Qamishli on February 1st as coordination continued.

While the full text of the agreement has not been made public, it appears to include some Kurdish demands, such as forming brigades of SDF fighters operating in Kurdish-majority areas. Nevertheless, the deal represents a significant setback for Kurdish ambitions to preserve the autonomy they established during Syria’s civil war.

Kurdish forces took control of large areas of northern and northeastern Syria during the fight against the Islamic State group, with backing from a US-led coalition. However, Washington has recently said the purpose of its alliance with the Kurds is largely over, weakening their position.

Thousands of Kurdish men, women, and children demonstrated in Qamishli on February 1st, waving flags and holding pictures of fallen fighters. Many expressed fears of betrayal by Damascus while emphasising the SDF’s role in protecting Kurdish communities.

Ashraq Al Aswat, Maghrebi.org