Armenian figures warn of escalating security breakdown in Transitional Govt. areas

The areas under the control of the Syrian Transitional Government have witnessed a notable increase in kidnappings, killings, and security breaches, amid frequent closures of roads and crossings linking these areas with the Autonomous Administration regions in North and East Syria. This has worsened the hardships of local populations and disrupted commercial and humanitarian traffic between the two sides.

Kidnappings and financial extortion have become almost daily occurrences, while residents fear traveling between regions due to harassment or arrest at the numerous checkpoints along the roads.

In this context, ANHA agency held interviews with Armenian political figures in the city of Al-Hasakah in al-Jazira canton, who expressed their frustration over the security chaos prevailing in the Transitional Government’s areas. They emphasized that these actions aim to increase pressure on civilians and obstruct humanitarian and economic communication between the two regions.

“Abandon the Revenge Mentality and Build Real State Institutions”

Imad Tatrian, the General Adviser to the Armenian Councils in North and East Syria, stressed that the Transitional Government “must abandon the revengeful and dominant mentality that prevailed during Bashar al-Assad’s government.” He confirmed that the kidnappings, displacement, and violations occurring in the country “constitute breaches of international law and aim to displace the original residents and settle people affiliated with the Transitional Government and mercenaries loyal to Turkey.”

Tatrian added that the continuation of these violations “will turn Syria into a state seen as a sponsor of terrorism, so it must act with the mentality of a state, not with the mentality of revenge-driven gangs.”

Civilians Caught Between Armed Factions and Dangerous Routes to Damascus

Arin Nersis Qasbian, co-chair of the Armenian Social Council, noted that “Turkey-backed factions seek to sabotage any agreement between the Syrian Democratic Forces and the Transitional Government.” She stressed the need to secure roads and crossings used by civilians, especially patients traveling to Damascus for treatment, adding: “It is not the fault of civilians to be killed or kidnapped, and safe checkpoints must be established to guarantee travelers’ safety.”

Turkey Fuels Tensions and Obstructs Stability

Fayez Hussein, co-chair of the Armenian Social Council in Al-Hasakah, stated that “these violations are systematic acts carried out by the Syrian Transitional Government aimed at inflaming the situation in the country and escalating tensions against the Syrian Democratic Forces.” He pointed out that “Turkey supports these practices and the factions implementing them in an attempt to portray the Autonomous Administration areas as unsafe.”

Hussein concluded by affirming that “forced displacement and violations occurring in many Syrian regions are directly supported by Turkey,” calling on global powers to “stand with the communities currently subjected to massacres and systematic violations.”

ANHA