SDF begins troop withdrawal from southern Hasakah under Syria deal

Shafaq News- Damascus

The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have
begun withdrawing troops and “heavy” equipment from parts of southern Hasakah
province under the January deal with Damascus, a military source told Shafaq
News on Tuesday.

The SDF units and heavy weapons are pulling back from
areas south of Hasakah and along the Tal Abyad Road to pre-agreed military
bases and barracks, as state security control is gradually restored under the
accord.

Internal Security Forces (Asayish) are taking over
checkpoints vacated by SDF units, the source added, while Syrian Interior
Ministry forces are expected to deploy to key urban centers to maintain
security during the transition.

On January 30, the Syrian government and the SDF
agreed to halt fighting and begin a phased integration of military and
administrative structures. The deal includes withdrawals from contact lines,
Interior Ministry deployments to the centers of Hasakah and Qamishli, the
gradual integration of local security forces to stabilize northeastern Syria,
and the control of the Syrian government of the border crossings and oil fields
in northeastern Syria.

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