Tensions Rise as Syrian Government Troops Prepare to Enter Retaken City
In a region that has long been a battleground between government forces and Kurdish-led SDF (Syrian Democratic Forces) fighters, the Syrian government has finally begun its push into the northern city of Hasakah. One of the most contested areas in the country's civil war, the fall of Hasakah represents a significant turning point in the conflict.
As troops prepare to enter the city, local residents are grappling with a mix of emotions: fear for their safety and hopes for an end to the violence that has ravaged the region for years. Al Jazeera spoke with locals to get a sense of what life will be like under government control once again.
"I'm scared," said one local resident, who wished to remain anonymous. "We've had our own police force and security forces here for so long, and now everything is changing. I don't know how it's going to affect us."
Despite the uncertainty, many residents also expressed a sense of relief that the fighting has finally subsided after years of intense conflict.
"It's been really hard living under siege," another resident said. "We've had to close our shops and stay indoors all the time. Now we can finally open up again and get back to some sort of normal life."
The agreement between the Syrian government and SDF fighters is seen as a significant step forward in the country's fragile peace process. However, concerns remain about how this new arrangement will play out in practice.
"We've been assured that there will be no reprisals or persecution," said a local official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. "We're just hoping that it works and that we can finally start to rebuild our city."
The government's entry into the region has also raised concerns about human rights abuses. The SDF has long been accused of human rights abuses against civilians in Kurdish-controlled areas, and many fear that similar atrocities may occur under government rule.
"I've seen things I never thought I'd see," said a local resident. "People who have been detained or killed by the SDF. Now we're worried about what the government might do."
As troops prepare to enter Hasakah, locals are bracing themselves for the unknown. Will they find safety and security under government control, or will the same patterns of violence and persecution repeat themselves? Only time will tell.
In a region that has long been a battleground between government forces and Kurdish-led SDF (Syrian Democratic Forces) fighters, the Syrian government has finally begun its push into the northern city of Hasakah. One of the most contested areas in the country's civil war, the fall of Hasakah represents a significant turning point in the conflict.
As troops prepare to enter the city, local residents are grappling with a mix of emotions: fear for their safety and hopes for an end to the violence that has ravaged the region for years. Al Jazeera spoke with locals to get a sense of what life will be like under government control once again.
"I'm scared," said one local resident, who wished to remain anonymous. "We've had our own police force and security forces here for so long, and now everything is changing. I don't know how it's going to affect us."
Despite the uncertainty, many residents also expressed a sense of relief that the fighting has finally subsided after years of intense conflict.
"It's been really hard living under siege," another resident said. "We've had to close our shops and stay indoors all the time. Now we can finally open up again and get back to some sort of normal life."
The agreement between the Syrian government and SDF fighters is seen as a significant step forward in the country's fragile peace process. However, concerns remain about how this new arrangement will play out in practice.
"We've been assured that there will be no reprisals or persecution," said a local official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. "We're just hoping that it works and that we can finally start to rebuild our city."
The government's entry into the region has also raised concerns about human rights abuses. The SDF has long been accused of human rights abuses against civilians in Kurdish-controlled areas, and many fear that similar atrocities may occur under government rule.
"I've seen things I never thought I'd see," said a local resident. "People who have been detained or killed by the SDF. Now we're worried about what the government might do."
As troops prepare to enter Hasakah, locals are bracing themselves for the unknown. Will they find safety and security under government control, or will the same patterns of violence and persecution repeat themselves? Only time will tell.
the situation in Syria is so complicated and it's hard to know what to expect when the Syrian government troops enter Hasakah again... Interesting 
how can one group of people be both feared and hoped for by locals at the same time? And what about the concerns about human rights abuses, it's a big issue 
think this is a big deal 
. anyone who's been following the war in Syria knows how unpredictable things can get. hope the sdf has done their due diligence to ensure no one gets hurt 
. seems like locals are just trying to stay safe and hopeful 
. gotta wonder what the long-term effects will be though 
. I mean, on one hand, it's great that the fighting has stopped and people can finally open up their shops again. But on the other hand, what about all those human rights abuses that have been happening under SDF rule? Can we really trust the government to be any better? 
. I don't want anyone else to go through what those people have gone through.
. The international community needs to be watching closely and making sure that things don't go downhill again.
. We need to support organizations that are working towards human rights and justice in Syria. We need to raise our voices and make some noise 
. This is not just about one city or one country, it's about making a difference in the world.
its like they're hopin for a new chapter in their lives, but theres also this fear of what might happen next 
theres this whole thing with human rights abuses and ppl bein detained or killed by the sdf... its a big question mark right now 
will the gov bring more stability or more violence? only time'll tell 
. how are they gonna make sure it doesn't happen again when the same people who committed those abuses are still in power? 
what about all the people who've already been displaced and traumatized by this conflict... will they just be forgotten now that the government's taking control? 