The tribes believe that putting universities, the judiciary, banks, and services under the supervision of ministries is not enough, in light of the fact that the actual security, military and administrative authority in large areas of the province remains in the hands of the SDF.
Afrasianet - Menhal Parish - The Arab tribes in al-Hasakah province have raised their demands by erecting four "war tents" in al-Milabiya, south of the city of al-Hasakah, Ras al-Ain in the west of the province, and Tal Hamis and al-Yarubiya in its eastern countryside.
The choice of this tribal symbol has a significance beyond the usual protest, as it is used in times of crisis and major crises, and reflects a growing sense that the implementation of the agreement to integrate the SDF into state institutions is proceeding at a slower pace than the people of the region expected. in the ministries and central departments in Damascus, including higher education, the judiciary, banks, and water.
However, these steps have not yet been reflected in the reality of security and administrative control or on the most prominent outstanding files among the residents of the Arab regions.
In a parallel line, the government delegation entered the protest line and held a meeting with the elders of the Tel Hamis tent in an attempt to contain the tension and prevent the expansion of movements to other areas.
However, the meeting did not lead to an end to the sit-ins, with the protesters adhering to guarantees issued by higher levels of the authority before dismantling the tents.
Al-Quds Al-Arabi learned from tribal sources in Al-Hasakah that the protesters refuse to be satisfied with the pledges of the presidential delegation present in the province, and are demanding guarantees from higher levels of authority before ending the movements.
One of the sources confirmed that some dignitaries demanded the presence of the head of the Tribes and Tribes Council, Sheikh Abdel Moneim Nassif, and the presidential advisor for tribal and tribal affairs, Jihad Issa al-Sheikh, known as "Abu Ahmed Zakour", to participate in the negotiations and provide clear guarantees regarding the implementation of the demands.
The return of institutions and the survival of power
In the higher education sector, the path of returning institutions to the government framework has shifted towards universities, as the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Marwan Al-Halabi, visited Rojava University in Qamishli, and discussed arrangements to link them to Al-Furat University and subject academic and administrative work to the supervision of the Ministry In parallel with the reactivation of the branches of the Agricultural Bank and the making of administrative changes in a number of government departments.
The resumption of the bank's work will facilitate the payment of wheat farmers' dues within the governorate. In the water file, the government restarted the Aluk plant after a break of more than seven years, but initial tests showed the extent of the damage accumulated in the transmission and distribution lines.
The presence of ministers and government officials gave the operation a political dimension, as an indication that Damascus is trying to regain its role in managing vital facilities and basic services in the province.
The tribes believe that putting universities, the judiciary, banks, and services under the supervision of ministries is not enough, in light of the fact that the actual security, military, and administrative authority in large areas of the province remains in the hands of the SDF.
The tribes fear that the merger of civil institutions will stabilize the status quo in a new form, without a real change in the nature of control or in the relationship of the local population with the authority on the ground.
The tribes base their demands on the agreement of January 29, 2026, and call for its implementation, leading to the extension of state authority over the entire province and the activation of its institutions.
Nearly six months after the agreement was signed, questions remain open about the form of the integration of military and security forces, the fate of local administrations, the status of detainees, the return of displaced people, and the nature of the region's participation in the new institutions to a permanent part of future arrangements.
Therefore, it seeks to include its demands in the negotiations before the completion of the restructuring of the governorate's institutions, and to ensure that the agreement is not limited to a bilateral understanding between Damascus and the SDF leadership.
Return of displaced people and disrupted services
At the forefront of the demands is the file of displaced Arabs from the neighborhoods of Ghuwayran and Al-Salhiya in the city of Al-Hasakah, and from the villages of the Harb tribe south of the city of Qamishli, in addition to the residents of villages in the Ras al-Ain area that are still controlled by the SDF.
They are demanding that each returning family be given up to $2,000 to help them secure their basic needs and repair their home after years of displacement.
The continued denial of the return of displaced people, in conjunction with the progress of institutional integration steps, raises their fears that the conditions created during the years of war will be consolidated and turned into a permanent fait accompli.
The participants also demand the release of SDF detainees, the removal of security restrictions that prevent the return of some families to their villages and neighborhoods, the enhancement of security and stability, and the handover of the administration of the Arab regions to the Syrian government institutions.
According to sources in al-Hasakah, the last school year in areas of the province has passed without the completion of the educational process on a regular basis, or the opening of schools and a clear formula regarding the curriculum and its supervisor.
Tens of thousands of students may face a new school year of turmoil, in light of the lack of clarity on curricula, teachers, and the recognition of certificates.
Therefore, the protesters are demanding the return of the Ministry of Education to direct supervision of schools, securing cadres, books, and educational supplies, and unifying the curricula and the authorities responsible for the educational process, to avoid missing another academic year for students.
This problem imposes additional costs and a long time on the residents to complete transactions that are supposed to be available within the province, especially since civil documents are linked to registration in schools and universities, employment, proof of ownership, obtaining passports, and completing marriage, birth, and inheritance transactions.
Linking them to the Ministry of Interior, and facilitating the extraction of documents from centers close to the residents' places of residence, as an essential part of activating state institutions.
Unemployment and the Fate of Arab Fighters
Economically, unemployment is an additional reason for the escalation of tensions, in light of the weak employment and investment opportunities and the decline in agricultural and service activities in the Arab regions.
The protesters believe that the return of state institutions should be accompanied by the opening of employment for the people of the governorate, and benefiting from them in civil, service and security institutions, and that the merger process should not be limited to changing the names of administrations and officials without addressing the economic conditions of the population.
According to local sources, the refusal A number of them joined the staff of the Ministries of Defense and Interior, despite leaving the previous formations and their desire to settle their status and join government institutions.
Their refusal to join raises fears that they will be left without an income or a clear employment and legal status, especially since working within military formations has been one of the few sources of income available to many young people over the past years.
The tribes believe that excluding them, or treating them differently from the rest of the members, may exacerbate the feeling of marginalization and increase social pressures on their families. An alternative to them, as part of a compromise that prevents the file from becoming a new source of tension.
Four tents and containment pressures
At the tribal level, the name "war tent" derives its weight from tribal custom, as it is erected when the tribe wants to gather its elders and sons around a unified position and raise the level of readiness in the face of a crisis that affects its security or rights.
The spread of tents in four geographically spaced points has also given the movement a broader character than a limited protest in a single town, and has shown the intersection of demands among tribal groups in different areas of the Despite the symbolism of the name, the available data so far do not indicate a decision to move towards an armed confrontation.
The meeting received the government delegations and presented their demands to them, confirming that the tents are still a tool for pressure and negotiation. In return, consultations are underway to keep one central tent in Milbia and remove the other three tents, in response to pressure exerted by the presidential delegation in the province.
However, the protesters link the approval to obtaining clear guarantees from higher authorities, and refuse to end the moves on the basis of the delegation's promises alone.
For its part, the government seeks to prevent the protests from turning into a field mobilization that is difficult to control, especially in an area where tribal affiliations, lines of control, and security files overlap.
However, the pressure to close the tents, without providing a clear response to political, service, and economic demands, may prompt the renewal of protests in other forms.
The essence of the dispute is related to who has power on the ground, and whether The return of the state would have included security, administration, and services, in addition to the institutions that the government has begun to restart Governorate without any real participation from it.
The tents reflect its transition from waiting to public pressure on both sides of the merger agreement, and a message to Damascus that the return of the state will be measured by what it achieves in the lives of the population and the reality of their areas.
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