Security forces fired into the air this week to disperse demonstrators in Syria’s Hasaka, after Arab protesters targeted Kurdish flags and a symbol of Kurdish resistance and Kurdish residents poured into the streets in response. Footage circulated by the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) captured the moment. It’s the latest sign that a hard-won arrangement in northeast Syria, also known as Rojava, is under strain.
The United States says it’s watching closely. A State Department spokesperson told Rudaw’s Diyar Kurda that Washington is “closely monitoring and concerned by reports of unrest in Hasakah and urges all parties to exercise restraint, reject violence and incitement, and resolve differences through peaceful dialogue.”
What Happened on the Streets
Arab demonstrators have protested against the Kurdish population and, according to reports, demanded control of the city’s governing institutions. Rudaw reported that tensions rose after protesters targeted Kurdish symbols, including flags and an image of a woman’s braid, which has recently emerged as a symbol of Kurdish resistance in the northeast. Kurdish residents then held counter-protests. The two sides clashed, with state-affiliated security forces involved.
Some demonstrators carried an image of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein on Friday. The symbolism wasn’t lost on Kurds. Many know about the genocide Saddam committed against Iraq’s Kurdish population, and displaying his image sends them a hostile message. Several Arab tribes in the Middle Euphrates River Valley near Hasaka have longstanding ties to Iraqi tribes and historically tended to support Saddam. Those ties reflect the sentiments of some tribes, whose connections to Iraq may be stronger than their ties to Syria.
Syrian state media appeared to ignore the clashes. North Press, an eastern Syria-based outlet, also largely avoided reporting on the unrest, perhaps reflecting a belief that avoiding publicity would help tensions dissipate.
Old Grievances, Unequal Accountability
The friction has several sources: Kurdish-language instruction in schools and the use of Kurdish on government signs, among them. Relations between Arab tribes and former Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) members have remained strained. In September, someone murdered a Kurdish soldier, and other Kurds died in a prison riot in Kobane.
Damascus and local authorities have generally sought to reduce tensions. But efforts to preserve stability have often meant that people responsible on either side haven’t faced charges. For families of the dead, that’s a grievance of its own.
The SDF controlled Hasaka until it reached an agreement with the central government in January 2026, following clashes between the SDF and Damascus. The force had U.S. backing since 2015, 11 years ago, and played a central role in the campaign against ISIS, defeating the group and liberating areas including Hasaka from its control. A compromise now allows Kurdish officials to retain influence and authority in Hasaka and other areas the SDF previously administered.
Calls for Dialogue
The Kurdish National Council in Syria (KNC) said the future of the Syrian Jazira region cannot be built through exclusion or division, but through partnership and protection of the dignity and rights of all its people. It said this approach would support “a democratic, pluralistic Syria founded on freedom and justice.” The council added that preserving relations among residents requires respect for ethnic and cultural distinctiveness, rejection of accusations of treason, arrogance and exclusion, and priority for dialogue and national responsibility. Welat TV distributed the statement.
Hasaka Governor Nour al-Din Ahmed, who is Kurdish, said on Friday that individuals and groups opposed to the integration agreement were fueling unrest. “Some figures and parties oppose the agreement [between the SDF and Damascus] and do not want it to be implemented,” he said. “So they have sought to play with the emotions of the community by finding pretexts to mobilize the public.” The SDF appointed Ahmed governor, and Damascus approved him. He’s a key figure in efforts to reconcile former SDF-held areas with the central government. Former SDF commander Mazloum Abdi spoke in Hasaka province on Friday and reiterated his commitment to integration.
The government is trying to integrate the SDF into the new Syrian army, while some Kurdish commanders retain senior positions. Sipan Hamo, a prominent SDF commander, became a deputy defense minister. On Sunday, the government announced it was developing a national approach to combating hate speech, bringing together national institutions and experts from the Office of the United Nations Special Envoy for Syria. SANA reported that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates organized the meeting at the Golden Mazzeh Hotel. Participants examined public discourse in Syria, international standards and the existing national framework.
Tensions may not ease soon.
Why This Matters: Hasaka shows how fragile post-conflict arrangements can be when communities that fought alongside, and against, one another are asked to share institutions. The Kurdish population has a recent history of persecution, and symbols like Saddam’s portrait land hard. Meanwhile, avoiding prosecutions to keep the peace risks leaving victims on both sides without justice, which can feed the next round of unrest. Washington says it supports a unified Syria in which “Kurds and all other communities enjoy equal citizenship, security, and meaningful participation in governance.” Whether the hate speech initiative and integration deal deliver that depends on whether authorities enforce commitments, not just announce them. Civilians in Hasaka’s streets would bear the cost of failure first.