Syrian Kurds volunteer to carry guns and protect their cities at night

Описание: (24 Jan 2026)
FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: 4632780

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Qamishli, Syria - 22 January 2026
++NIGHT SHOT++
1. Various of armed volunteers’ checkpoint on streets in Qamishli
2. SOUNDBITE (Kurdish) Suhail Ali, 39-year-old volunteer and business owner from Qamishli (face covered):
++PART OVERLAID BY SHOT 1 AND 3++
“We as the youth of Qamishli, came out to defend our city. We left and closed our business to defend our people and city. Because we saw what happened in the coast, in Sweida and we don’t want that to be repeated here, and we don’t accept that, neither for ourselves nor for our people.”
3. Various of volunteers and civilians carrying guns, standing by checkpoint
4. SOUNDBITE (Kurdish) Aziz Bezi, 40-year-old volunteer and blacksmith from Qamishli (face covered):
++PART OVERLAID BY SHOT 4++
“The enemy is gathered, so we are forced to carry guns. Every house, kid, elderly, and girl had to carry guns. So, no one should be scared at all and stay in their city.”
5. Various of volunteers’ checkpoint in Qamishli
6. Various of volunteer standing under rain




STORYLINE:
Tens of Kurdish youths volunteered to patrol the streets and vital areas in the city of Qamishli in northeast Syria.

Volunteers brought their own guns and started setting up checkpoints in various areas in the city.

“We came out to support our fighters, and we want to send a message to our people in all around the world, be relived and we assure you that we do our best here.” said Bahoz Barakat, a 35-year-old volunteer shop owner from Qamishli.

Despite the bad weather, most of the volunteers stand out the whole night in case of anything happens in the city.

“Every house, kid, elderly, and girl had to carry guns. So, no one should be scared at all and stay in your city.” said Aziz Bezi, a 40-year-old volunteer blacksmith from Qamishli.

The volunteers left their jobs and closed their businesses due to the recent tensions and instability in northeast Syria.

“We left and closed our business to defend our people and city. Because we saw what happened in the coast, in Sweida and we don’t want that to be repeated here.” said Suhail Ali, a 39-year-old volunteer business owner from Qamishli.

Two tumultuous weeks saw the fall from power in Syria of the Kurdish-led force that was once the main U.S. partner there, as Washington shifted its backing to the country's nascent government.

Analysts say the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) miscalculated, taking a hard stance in negotiations with the new leaders in Damascus on the assumption that if a military conflict erupted between them, Washington would support the SDF as it had for years when they battled the Islamic State group.

Instead, the Kurdish-led force lost most of its territory in northeast Syria to a government offensive after intense clashes erupted in the northern city of Aleppo on Jan. 6. Washington did not intervene militarily and focused on mediating a ceasefire.

By Wednesday, the latest ceasefire was holding, and the SDF had signed onto a deal that would effectively dissolve it.

Video shot by Hogir el Abdo

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