Tribal Leaders in Hasakeh Issue Strict Demands to Damascus, Threatening Escalation Against SDF
Tensions in northeastern Syria have escalated following a significant new declaration by tribal leaders in the Al-Hasakah province. A collective of local tribes has issued a stern ultimatum directed at the central government in Damascus, outlining specific conditions regarding the security architecture and governance of the region. According to the released statement, failure to meet these demands will result in a “general mobilization inside and outside Syria” targeting the operations and presence of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
The ultimatum presents two primary requirements that challenge the current balance of power in the semi-autonomous region. First, the tribal leaders are demanding an immediate and complete cessation of all arrests and security raids conducted by the SDF. These security operations, often cited by the SDF as necessary anti-terror measures, have frequently been points of friction between the local Arab population and the SDF’s internal security apparatus. The tribes contend that these actions destabilize the community and violate local rights.
Second, and most significantly, the tribes are calling for the deployment of government forces to all national borders and “all areas of Hasakeh.” This demand effectively seeks the re-establishment of full administrative and military control by the Syrian state over the province, explicitly bypassing the current SDF administration. The call for Damascus to assert control over the borders implies a desire to dissolve the autonomy currently held by the local administration and return the province to the central government’s jurisdiction.
The threat of a “general mobilization” suggests the potential for widespread unrest and coordinated action against SDF positions if the Syrian government does not intervene as requested. This development highlights the continuing fragility of the relationship between the region’s large Arab tribal confederations and the SDF, which serves as the primary partner of the United States-led coalition in the fight against ISIS. While the SDF controls large swathes of territory in the northeast, the Syrian government has maintained a limited “security square” presence in specific zones within Al-Hasakah city and Qamishli.
Observers note that this call for Damascus to drastically expand its military footprint represents a pivot in the local political dynamic, placing pressure on the central government to assert sovereignty while threatening the stability of the current governance structures. As of this report, neither the Syrian government in Damascus nor the SDF command has issued an official response to the tribes’ declaration. The situation remains fluid as local stakeholders assess the potential for renewed conflict in this strategic border province.
