Crimes have increased in the areas controlled by the US-backed SDF militia in Hasakah

Crime, chaos and disorder have increased in the areas controlled by the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) militia in Hasakah despite the many checkpoints established by this militia in these areas. This situation increases pressure on civilians in the Syrian Al-Jazira region.

Locals in several Hasakah areas, who want to go to the city during the day to get their daily needs, feel frightened by the crimes of theft, armed robbery as well as killing. They cannot leave their villages at night as all roads in all directions are unsafe.

During the past few days, several crimes and security incidents were registered in Hasakah province and most of them were committed in collusion between the SDF militia and the criminals. Security has massively deteriorated there as a result of robbery incidents at the SDF militia’s checkpoints on main roads, where the SDF militants stop citizens’ cars and steal their mobiles and money.

 Two days ago, unidentified persons kidnapped a civilian from Al-Salehiyeh neighborhood in Hasakah. Later he was found dead, his body was mutilated and cut into parts and thrown in a deserted place near Ghweiran neighborhood. The incident sparked fear and panic among the citizens in this area.

Earlier, gunmen opened fire at young men driving along Hasakah-Al-Hawl road, injuring two of them. The driver survived and managed to take the injured to the hospital under the gaze of the SDF militants deployed on this road.

Many looting incidents have also taken place via motorcycles. Thieves on motorcycles steal women’s bags and mobiles from passers-by near the checkpoints of the forces of the so-called local police (Asayish). In addition, some incidents of stealing goldsmiths’ shops by women have been also registered in this area, despite the fact that the militia’s checkpoints are a few meters away from them.

Checkpoints erected specially for looting  appear suddenly on the roads, especially on Hasakah southern road that leads to Deir Ezzor and on Hasakah southwestern road that leads to Raqqa province. 

Moreover, the contents of two houses were stolen in the neighborhoods of Al-Nashwa Al-Sharqiyeh and Ghweiran in Hasakah and an elderly woman in one of these houses was beaten while resisting the thieves.  These robbery incidents have been accompanied with the notable spread of drugs in the light of the absence of order and law.

 The state of insecurity in the SDF-controlled areas is the result of the complicity of the SDF militants with certain armed groups that have links with influential SDF leaders and that commit crimes in daylight without fear. 

Even mass transportation vehicles are exposed to robbery and theft, so many of them stop working at night.

The locals believe that the chaos and instability and the illegal spread of weapons have been a main reason that facilitated crimes in the SDF militia-controlled areas.

According to the locals, one of the main reasons for the spread of chaos and insecurity is the SDF militia’s control over all walks of life in this region, because what concerns this militia the most, particularly its leaders, is to collect levies from citizens and loot their money and then flee to Iraq or Turkey. 

Hamda Mustafa