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Pro government militias attack rebel positions in Hasakah
HASAKAH – Clashes broke out on Tuesday evening between western-backed Kurdish-Arab-Christian alliance of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and pro-Assad troops in the northeastern province of Hasakah, military sources reported. “The clashes broke out after pro-Assad militias attacked our (SDF) positions in the Arisha district in southern Hasakah,” a spokesman for the SDF told ARA News. The Kurdish-Arab-Christian joint forces have been preparing to attack the terror group of Islamic State (ISIS) in Shaddadi city south of Hasakah from their headquarters in the Arisha district. “By attacking our headquarters in Arisha, pro-Assad militias aim to serve ISIS terrorists,” the spokesman said. At least four SDF fighters were injured during the clashes, while one militant of the National Defense was killed. “The pro-Assad militias were forced to retreat from the vicinity of Arisha under the blows of the SDF units,” the source reported. The pro-Assad militia of the National Defense in Hasakah has warned earlier this week residents of the ISIS-held city of Shaddadi about a possible attack by the Kurdish forces of the People’s Protection Units (YPG)–a leading member of the SDF. The National Defense called on the residents of Shaddadi to take up arms and defend their city against the alleged Kurdish offensive. Local sources in Hasakah told ARA News that the pro-Assad militia of National Defense has recruited hundreds of Arab tribal men in preparation to attack the SDF units in the province. Noteworthy, the Syrian Democratic Forces, backed by the U.S.-led coalition’s air cover, have expelled ISIS militants from more than 220 towns and villages in northeastern Syria since the start of its operations last September. After cleansing the key town of al-Hawl on the border with Iraq from ISIS extremists, the Kurdish-Arab-Christian joint forces started heading to the ISIS-held Shaddadi city in Hasakah province. Posted by: badanov 2015-12-23 |
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