Arya News - Damascus says forces entering city in northeastern Hasakah province ‘to commence security duties’ under US-backed deal.
Syrian forces have begun entering the Kurdish-majority city of Qamishli, Syria’s state news agency is reporting, as part of a ceasefire deal with Kurdish-led forces.
Citing the Syrian Interior Ministry, the SANA news agency reported on Tuesday that units began entering the city in northeastern Hasakah province, “to implement the terms of the agreement and commence their security duties”.
The move comes just days after the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on Friday agreed to a deal with Damascus to integrate into Syrian state institutions, ending weeks of tensions and armed confrontations with advancing government troops.
Reporting from near the city of Tel Brak, outside of Qamishli, on Tuesday, Al Jazeera’s Teresa Bo said hundreds of people were following a convoy of Syrian forces as it made its way towards the city.
She explained that the operation enjoyed “lots of support”, particularly among the local Arab population, as well as within some segments of the Kurdish population.
Still, Bo said “there’s tension … and certainly there’s a risk of violence”.
Friday’s deal staved off the prospect of further confrontation between Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s government and the SDF, which lost swathes of eastern and northern Syria to government troops in January.
Hailed by the United States as an important step towards unity and reconciliation, the accord foresees a phased integration of Kurdish fighters into government forces.