ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - At least one soldier of the Syrian army was killed Wednesday when infighting erupted between the army and a regime-affiliated militia, a war monitor reported.
Clashes erupted on Wednesday inside a small pocket in central Hasaka city controlled by Damascus where regime institutions are located, known as the Security Square, between Syrian regime forces and the National Defense Forces (NDF), a pro-regime militia. The rest of the city is under the control of Kurdish forces.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based war monitor, reported that a Syrian government soldier was killed and four others were wounded during the clashes, adding that 16 NDF fighters surrendered to regime forces.
At least five civilians were also injured in the clashes.
Footage published on social media showed military vehicles, including tanks, being deployed inside the Security Square as the sound of gunfire echoed in the skies.
In a video, NDF commander Abdul Qadir Hamo declared a rebellion and the separation of his militia from the Syrian government forces, slamming officials including Defense Minister Ali Mamlouk for demanding a $3 million ransom to prevent Hamo’s removal from his position.
“From now on, you are not affiliated to the state, and none of you are considered elements of the state. Look, they hit you with RPG launchers and slaughter you like an enemy. They are your enemies,” Hamo told his fighters in a video statement.
Security forces from the Kurdish administration in northeast Syria (Rojava) began receiving civilians fleeing the violence in the Security Square after the infighting broke out.
Last month, four people were injured during clashes between the NDF and the prominent Arab Jubour tribe after the former attacked a leader from the tribe.
