Protest against PYD, NDF’s militias refuse to fight with regime

Translation by Yusra Ahmed

Al Hasakah (Zaman Alwasl)- Sources reported to Zaman Alwasl that militias from the National Defense Forces in al-Hasakah, have contested against their leadership and threatened of fighting the regime forces, in case they continued in complementing the People’s Protecting Unite “YPG” which is a part of Democratic Union Party, “PYD”, as regime permitted these Kurdish units to enter neighborhoods controlled by the “Masked, the NDF's militias.

The source confirmed that around 200 member from the first branch of the NDF lead by Bassam Ersan, and the third branch lead by Abo Khalid al-Haji, withdrew and left their arms following the entry of the Kurdish units to the military neighborhood and the army's base inside it, besides other areas like Masaken, Nasira, Dolab al’awis, even al-Nashwa and al-Layliya which are under the masked's control.

Earlier, dozens of the NDF members refused fighting and left the National Hospital based in al-Aziziya neighborhood as a protest against letting forces from the PYD to enter the neighborhood from South and East, arresting 60 people and invading their houses.

All those development took place after al-Milabiya battle, in which ISIS took control of al-Milabiya troop in 26th July, when regime requested help from the PYD fighters to help them in releasing 50 of its members. Their interference in NDF militias’ areas, provoked “Ali al-Abood al-Tiba” the NDF’s leader.

Activists mentioned that a meeting was held yesterday in Qamishli, between figures from al-Ba’ath Party and members from the PYD, aimed to solve disagreement between both of them, especially after the prominent existence of the later’s forces in areas controlled by the “Masked” to break siege on Ghewiran neighborhood.

NDF in Hasaka consists of 3 branches, the first is led by Bassam Ersan, and the second by Thabit al-Jihar, while Abo Khalid al-Haji leads the third. They have around 12 thousand members; most of them join the forces for money and arms beside the opportunity to bullying people and robbery.

In a relevant content, activists mentioned that around 36 members from the PYD were killed during fighting with ISIS in Jaza'a, and some were captured.

ISIS controlled many villages like Safana, Akrisha, Tal-Sahn and al-Honwa after fighting with ISIS near Jaza’a at Yarobiya crossing point, and if ISIS managed to control the crossing point, they will stop supply to Senjar area which has Yazidi majority.

Local source reported that fighting in different areas with heavy arms, caused intensive displacement of people in those areas fear of the heavy arms being used.