Difa al-Watani (National Defense Forces, NDF) militias affiliated to the Damascus government were removed from Qamishlo's Tai neighbourhood. However, the danger persists. The same situation occurred in Hesekê's Xiwêran neighbourhood in 2016.

Difa al-Watani militias were created by the Damascus government in 2004 in Qamishlo and Hesekê. The purpose of these militias was to suppress popular movements such as the Qamishlo Serhildan. With the popular movements that started in 2011, the Difa al-Watani militias came to prominence again. They have committed numerous crimes to keep the Damascus government in power.

Internal Security Forces broke the influence of Difa al-Watani militias in Hesekê in 2016. Numerous areas controlled by the militias were saved. They remained in certain areas under the Damascus government. The militias sometimes attack the Internal Security Forces from the posts they still hold. Clashes took place as a result of the attack of the militias in January.

After the provocations in Hesekê, the militias acted in Qamishlo's Tai neighbourhood. They attacked the Internal Security Forces' point on al-Wehde Street on April 20. As a result of the attack, a member of the Internal Security Forces fell a martyr. The Internal Security Forces responded to the attacks. The clashes lasted for 7 days, until Tay was cleared and secured by the Internal Security Forces. The militias fled to villages south of Qamishlo.

According to the information collected by ANHA, the militias relocated in 74 villages where there are still military posts held by the Damascus government.

Although the Tai neighbourhood has been cleared, the danger continues.