Kurdish National Council HQ in Al-Hasakah sabotaged; SDF accused
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Unknown individuals set fire to two offices affiliated with the Kurdish National Council in the Syrian province of Al-Hasakah on Wednesday.
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US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) militants sit on their armored vehicles, at al-Sabha town in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor, Syria, Monday, September 4, 2023. (AP)
A group of unknown individuals set fire to two offices of parties affiliated with the Kurdish National Council groups, which is allied with the so-called opposition coalition, in the Syrian province of Al-Hasakah on Wednesday.
This incident has occurred more than once in less than two months, reflecting the ongoing tension between them and the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD), one of the biggest "self-administration" Kurdish groups of the northeastern regions of Syria, due to conflicting affiliations, despite all US attempts to facilitate reconciliation.
Sources familiar with the matter told Al Mayadeen that a group of individuals entered the headquarters of the PYD on Wednesday.
The same sources revealed that the PYD accused the "Youth Revolutionary Movement," which is affiliated with the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), of setting the offices on fire after accusations were leveled against the same organization by the council itself due to previous acts of arson and sabotage.
Simultaneously, the so-called Kurdish National Council groups issued a statement that said, "Armed men affiliated with the Democratic Union Party attacked the headquarters of the Kurdistan Democratic Party and the Kurdistan Democratic Unity Party in the city of Qamishli on Wednesday and set them on fire, including their equipment and furniture, and also attempted to burn the office of the Kurdish National Council in the town of Al-Qahtaniyah."
In its statement, the council called on social, civil, and party organizations to condemn these acts, urging human rights organizations and the international coalition, led by the United States, to take necessary action to stop these attacks, which "increase tension, frustration, and instability."
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On its part, Asayish (Kurdish for security) announced in a statement the burning of two offices belonging to the Kurdish National Council in the city of Qamishli in northeastern Syria by unknown assailants," indicating that they have begun investigations to uncover the truth behind the incident.
Furthermore, Kurdish sources informed Al Mayadeen Net that "the arson was in response to the visit of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Iraqi Kurdistan, and as a message to the region to prevent the incitement of pro-Turkish parties in Syria against the self-administration and the SDF."
The sources speculated that tensions may escalate between the two parties in the coming period due to increased coordination between the Iraqi and Turkish sides, specifically the Kurdistan Regional Government, as Baghdad accepts the classification of the Kurdistan Workers' Party as a terrorist organization.
It is worth noting that the Kurdish National Council consists of several Kurdish parties ideologically affiliated with the Kurdistan Regional Government, enjoying good relations with the Turkish side, which arouses the resentment of the Democratic Union Party.
Both the United States and France have repeatedly attempted to pave the way for reconciliation between the two parties. However, ideological differences and the contradictory political entities supporting each party have prevented them from reaching a reconciliation agreement and unity.
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