On February 26, fighters from the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) occupied a building of the Damascus government in the northeastern Syrian town of al-Qamishli.

According to the Syrian Arab News Agency, SDF fighters took over the Social Insurance and Labor building in the town’s center by force.

“A groups of SDF fighters took control of the three-story Social Security and Labor building after breaking the door locks then began to guard the main entrance, turning it [the building] to a military area,” a local source told the stat-run agency.

Al-Qamishli town, which is located right on the border line with Turkey, is split between the SDF and Syrian government forces.

This was not the first time the SDF occupy government buildings in northeastern Syria. Less than two years ago, the group took over several government buildings in the al-Hasakah upon orders from the US-led coalition who was looking to expand its presence in the city. Eventually, most of the buildings were returned to government forces.

The SDF’s move could provoke a stand-off with government forces in al-Qamishli, who confronted the US-backed group on several occasions in the past.

Source: South Front