Assyrian Forces Launch Counterattack Against Kurdish Fighters in Syria

Assyrian GPF fighters in Qamishli, Syria. Hours after the Kurdish police (Asayish) and the Arab tribesmen of the National Defense Forces (NDF) began to clash inside Qamishli, the Assyrian forces (Sootooro and Hamiya Al-Jazeerah) launched a counter-attack near the Security Box after several of their fighters were arrested by the Asayish. Intense clashes are still ongoing between the pro-government forces and the Asayish in Qamishli; however, the battle is deadlocked, despite claims made by Kurdish activists regarding the alleged capture of the Qamishli Central Prison. According to a military source in Qamishli, 5 NDF soliders have been killed and over 30 others, including Sootooro and Hamiya Al-Jazeerah, were reportedly wounded. The NDF tribesmen that were killed by the Asayish are the following: Dhiab Mohammad Ibrahim, Ziad Mohammad, Ma'an Al-Saalam, Hadi Makhlif Al-Salameh, and Colonel Jalil (last name not provided). Asayish casualties could not be verified.