Security forces affiliated with the Syrian Interior Ministry entered the city of Qamishli in north-eastern al-Hassakeh province on Tuesday, local sources confirmed to dpa, the next step in integrating Kurdish institutions into the state.
The step is part of an agreement with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Qamishli was previously under Kurdish administration.
On Monday, government forces arrived in the city of al-Hassakeh, the former administrative centre of the Kurdish regions.
The SDF has imposed a curfew in Qamishli from 7 am until 6 pm (0400-1500 GMT) to prevent any security breaches.
During the Syrian civil war, the Kurds in the north and north-east of the country established a self-governing administration.
Now, the Kurdish institutions are to be placed under the authority of the central government.
An agreement announced last Friday envisions a gradual integration process between the institutions of northern and eastern Syria and the Syrian state.
The task of the Interior Ministry forces is to “support integration and ensure coordination between our institutions and the state,” said SDF commander Mazloum Abdi.
These forces have “a specific administrative task” and are not intended to take control of the entire city or individual locations. That responsibility lies with the so-called Asayish, Kurdish police and security forces.
A Kurdish resident in Qamishli told dpa: “We are living in fear. We don’t know what to expect.”
“Many Kurdish residents are staying home. We are waiting to see what the future will bring,” the resident added.