Brawl breaks out between Russian military police and Kurdish security forces in Syria

Sources who spoke to The New Arab’s sister publication, Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, said that the brawl broke out in the Tayy, in the southern part of Qamishli city, following a request by Russian military police for the Asayish to withdraw from the neighbourhood.

It follows failed negotiations between the Asayish and the Syrian regime-backed National Defence Forces (NDF) militias, after clashes erupted between the two sides.

Sources revealed that talks between are continuing with the regime side represented by Major General Shawqi Al-Ali and Nuri Mahmoud speaking on behalf of the SDF. 

The Syrian Democratic Forces are a predominantly Kurdish-led group, which controls much of northeastern Syria. With the help of an US-led international coalition, the group was instrumental in dismantling the Islamic State group's caliphate in Syria. 

The neighbourhood of Tayy has been the scene of recent deadly clashes between the Asayish and the NDF, prompting Russian forces to step in to restore calm. 

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Russia views Qamishli airport, which it uses as a military base, as being strategically important to its interests in northern Syria and is keen in restoring calm in Tayy, which lies close to the airbase. 

Russia has fought in support of President Bashar Al-Assad's regime since 2015, and helped to turn the tide of the war in his favour. 

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