Assad regime keeps attacking Hasaka despite US’ warning

Assad regime’s air force attacked today many areas in the city of Hasaka despite the US’ warnings sent to them through Russia against attacking the Kurdish militias, the US allies in Syria.

People’s Protection Units (YPG) Kurdish militia, a crucial partner in the US-led war against Islamic State (ISIS), said it would “not be silent” over what it called it an act of aggression.

The air attacks coincided with the arrival of Ali Mamlouk, the director of national security office in the Assad regime, to defuse and de-escalate the clashes, according to the same sources who also said that if Mamlouk failed in the mission, he would increase the bombardment.

U.S. planes were scrambled Friday over northeastern Syria after two Assad regime’s air force SU-24 attack planes conducted strikes near Hasaka while coalition forces were conducting operations there as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, Defense Department spokesman Navy Capt. Jeff Davis said .

It troubles us when we see …regime airstrikes in Hasaka in an area where it’s well known by everybody, to include Assad regime, that the coalition is actively engaged in operations against ISIS,” Davis said.

“We view instances that place coalition personnel at risk with the utmost seriousness,” Davis added, “and we do have the inherent right of self-defense when U.S. forces are at risk.”

Four helicopters loaded with Assad regime forces, Shiite mercenaries, ammunition and weapons landed in the airport of Qamishili, Hasaka Youth Union Facebook said.

Assad regime maintains footholds in the cities of Hasaka and Qamishli at the border with Turkey. The Kurdish militias have controlled most of Hasaka city since last year.

The air raids on Hasakah, which is divided into zones of Kurdish militas’ and Assad regime’s control, marks the most violent confrontation between the Kurdish YPG and Damascus in more than five years of crisis.

The YPG and Assad regime have mostly left each other to their own devices in the multi-sided Syrian war, during which Kurdish groups have exploited the collapse of state control to establish autonomy across much of the north.

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a US-backed alliance consisting primarily of YPG Kurdish fighters, said on last week they were in control of most of the city, held by ISIS, also known as ISIS, since 2014.

The Kurdish militias launched an offensive against ISIS to retake the city of Manbij in May. Kurdish militias aimed at controlling Manbij to complete their control over northern Syria and pave the way to their autonomy goal.

The Assad regime, which routinely uses its air force against rebels in western Syria, still has footholds in the cities of Qamishli and Hasakah, both in Hasakah governorate.