Multiple sources from the Al-Hasakah Governorate have reported of fierce clashes between the National Defense Forces (NDF) and the predominately Kurdish “People’s Protection Units” (YPG) at the Industrial District of Al-Qamishli, as the aforementioned parties illuminated the night sky with a barrage of mortar shells and gunfire that lasted until sunrise this Monday morning.
While the clashes have begun to subside in the city of Al-Qamishli, sources from within the province have reported of street fights between the NDF and YPG near the Al-Bashir Mosque earlier today – no deaths have been reported from the NDF; however, at least four soldiers have been wounded and taken to a nearby hospital.
Tensions between the two groups began to spiral out of control after a brief exchange of artillery shells in the western part of Al-Qamishli last week; this resulted in the YPG taking control of a Ba’ath Party building and then their subsequent desecration of the Syrian Arab Republic flag that infuriated a number of Syrians in the area after photos surfaced on social media of this disrespectful act.
Members of the NDF have clashed with the YPG before; however, both parties usually settle their differences through intermediaries inside the Al-Qamishli and Al-Hasakah Districts.
