The city of Qamishli, in northeastern Syria, is experiencing widespread public outrage among the Kurdish population following the circulation of video footage documenting a shooting incident that targeted a Kurdish flag in a public space. This occurs amid growing concerns regarding the implications of the incident for civil peace and the fragile stability of the region.
According to available information, the video depicts an individual identified as Hussein Al-Hasso firing shots indiscriminately at a hoisted Kurdish flag, as well as a sign bearing the name of the city “Qamishlo” in the Kurdish language. The incident occurred on the M4 International Highway, specifically at the “Zouri Roundabout,” while he was passing through the area returning to his village of Al-Amiriya, located near the Qamishli International Airport.
The recorded footage shows that the incident took place during active traffic at the location, with civilian vehicles and a fuel tanker visible nearby. This sparked panic among civilians and raised serious concerns regarding the potential for casualties as a result of indiscriminate gunfire in a populated area.
It is noted that the individual in question, Hussein Al-Hasso, hails from the “Al-Rashid” tribes. Circulating information indicates that he was previously loyal to the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, before subsequently shifting his allegiance to the new Syrian authority led by “Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham” (HTS).
In a related context, the General Command of the Internal Security Forces (“Asayish”) in Al-Hasakah Governorate issued a statement announcing the arrest of Hussein Al-Hasso for his involvement in “acts of aggression targeting Kurdish symbols” in the city of Qamishli.
According to the statement, a security operation was executed based on intelligence and precise monitoring of the suspect’s movements; he was apprehended at 3:00 AM in coordination with security entities affiliated with the Syrian Interim Government. The “Asayish” confirmed that preliminary investigations indicate the motive behind the incident was an “attempt to destabilize and sow discord among the components of the region.”
The security authorities further emphasized that the detainee would undergo a comprehensive investigation, preparatory to being referred to the competent judiciary, while pledging to hold accountable anyone who threatens security and civil peace.
This incident occurs in a sensitive context within the region, following the recent announcement of a cessation of military operations after bloody clashes, which exacerbates public anxiety regarding the potential for renewed tensions.
