The Damascus-linked Difa al-Watani (NDF) are continuing their provocations in Northern and Eastern Syria. Mercenaries from the regime militia stormed shops in Hesekê, devastated them and abducted twenty Kurdish shopkeepers. The NDF apparently wanted to "retaliate" for the arrest of one of its leaders by security forces of the Autonomous Administration (Asayîş). The man was arrested because of a large number of complaints linked to his actions against business owners.

The Asayîş demanded the immediate release of the abducted shopkeepers and, according to correspondents from the ANHA news agency, were able to secure their release at around 11 p.m. The security forces had announced "countermeasures" should the men arrested by NDF not be released.

Systematic provocations

The Baathist regime tries constantly to stir up unrest in the region and to destabilize the Autonomous Administration areas. The provocations of the NDF have a high potential for escalation. In April, NDF attacks in Qamishlo led to heavy clashes. In the end, the NDF attacks were neutralised by the security forces and the militias had to give up the neighbourhoods they controlled in Qamishlo.