Arab demonstrators in Hasaka demanded control of governing institutions, sparking confrontations with Kurdish residents and calls for restraint from the United States and the Kurdish National Council in Syria (KNC). The protests come as the Syrian government seeks to integrate the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) into the new Syrian army under an agreement reached in January 2026.
A U.S. State Department spokesperson told Rudaw's Diyar Kurda that the United States was “closely monitoring and concerned by reports of unrest in Hasakah” and urged all parties to “exercise restraint, reject violence and incitement, and resolve differences through peaceful dialogue.” The department also said it “supports a unified, sovereign Syria in which Kurds and all other communities enjoy equal citizenship, security, and meaningful participation in governance.”
The integration agreement under pressure
The SDF controlled Hasaka until reaching an agreement with the central government in January 2026, after clashes between the SDF and Damascus. Under the compromise, Kurdish officials retain influence and authority in Hasaka and other areas previously administered by the SDF. The Syrian government has sought to integrate the force into the new Syrian army, with some Kurdish commanders retaining senior positions.
Sipan Hamo, a prominent SDF commander, became a deputy defense minister. Former SDF commander Mazloum Abdi spoke in Hasaka province on Friday and reiterated his commitment to integration. Hasaka Governor Nour al-Din Ahmed, who is Kurdish, said individuals and groups opposed to the agreement were fueling unrest.
“Some figures and parties oppose the agreement [between the SDF and Damascus] and do not want it to be implemented,” Ahmed 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 is a key figure in efforts to reconcile former SDF-held areas with the central government and integrate their institutions.
The SDF had U.S. backing since 2015 and played a central role in the campaign against ISIS, defeating the group and liberating areas including Hasaka from its control. No one knows when the current tensions will subside.
Symbols, language and competing grievances
Rudaw reported that tensions rose after protesters targeted Kurdish symbols, including flags and an image of a woman's braid. The braid has recently emerged as a symbol of Kurdish resistance in northeast Syria, also known as Rojava. Kurdish residents then staged counter-protests, leading to confrontations with state-affiliated security forces. Footage circulated by the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights showed security forces firing into the air to disperse demonstrators.
Several issues feed the tensions, including Kurdish-language instruction in schools and the use of Kurdish on government signs. Relations between Arab tribes and former SDF members have remained strained. In September, someone murdered a Kurdish soldier, while 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 people responsible on either side haven't faced charges.
Some demonstrators carried an image of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein during a protest on Friday. Several Arab tribes in the Middle Euphrates River Valley near Hasaka have longstanding ties to Iraqi tribes and historically tended to support Saddam Hussein. Many Kurds know of the genocide Saddam committed against the Kurdish population in Iraq; the article said displaying his image sends a hostile message toward Kurds. It also said the image reflects sentiments among some Arab tribes whose historical ties to Iraq may be stronger than their ties to Syria.
Calls for restraint and action on hate speech
The KNC said the future of the Syrian Jazira region can't be built through exclusion or division, but through partnership and protection of the dignity and rights of all its people. It said that approach would support “a democratic, pluralistic Syria founded on freedom and justice.” The council also called for respect for ethnic and cultural distinctiveness, rejection of accusations of treason, arrogance and exclusion, and priority for dialogue and national responsibility.
On Sunday, the Syrian government announced it was developing a national approach to combating hate speech. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates organized a meeting at the Golden Mazzeh Hotel, bringing together national institutions and experts from the Office of the United Nations Special Envoy for Syria. Syrian state news agency SANA reported that the workshop examined public discourse, international principles and standards, approaches adopted in other countries, and the existing national framework and challenges.
The State Department urged the Syrian government, which includes Kurdish leaders, and local authorities to “uphold their commitments, address legitimate concerns, and take practical steps to rebuild trust.” Syrian state media appeared to ignore the clashes, while North Press, a media outlet based in eastern Syria, also largely avoided reporting on the unrest. The article said this might reflect a belief that avoiding publicity would help tensions dissipate.