SDF lift al-Hasakah, Qamishli sieges amid Russian mediation
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Russian commander Andrey Serdyukov successfully mediates talks between the SDF and the Syrian Arab Army, ending the siege imposed by the US-backed group on al-Hasakah and Qamishli.
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A US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighter stands next to an armored vehicle, at al-Sabha town in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor, Syria, Monday, Sept. 4, 2023 (AP)
The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) ended their seven-day siege on the cities of al-Hasakah and Qamishli, during which water, fuel, flour, food, and medicine tankers were prevented from entering, and roads were closed, obstructing the movement of vehicles to and from these areas.
Al-Hasakah governor, Dr. Louay Sayyouh, subsequently told Al Mayadeen that all roads that were blocked were opened, while goods began flowing into the cities' centers, confirming that the situation returned to normal.
Sayyouh further noted that Russian mediation successfully ended tensions in both al-Hasakah and Qamishli, amid a visit from the commander of the Russian forces in Syria to the region.
Andrey Serdyukov arrived in al-Hasakah for the second time over the course of four days to renew Russia's mediation attempts between the US-backed SDF and the Syrian Arab Army in the city of al-Hasakah, aiming to end the military escalations launched by the SDF in recent days.
Al Mayadeen's sources confirmed that "Serdyukov met with the commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces, Mazloum Abdi, and they mutually agreed to return things to the pre-siege conditions," noting that "the necessity of maintaining calm and stability and avoiding any field escalation was emphasized."
However, Al Mayadeen's correspondent reported that the Syrian Democratic Forces stormed the northern town of al-Sabha, east of Deir Ezzor, turning the town's school into a headquarters for its artillery, earlier today.
The militants also besieged the cities of al-Junaina and al-Hisan in the western countryside of Deir Ezzor, under the pretext of searching for wanted persons.
Read more: Syrian tribes attack SDF positions to reclaim US-occupied territory
