Syrian defense minister warns ‘arbitrary’ arrests by SDF in Hasakah ‘threaten ceasefire’

ISTANBUL

Syria’s Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra warned Wednesday that the SDF group has carried out “arbitrary” arrests in northeastern Hasakah province despite a ceasefire agreement.

“Less than a day after the ceasefire, the SDF began arbitrary arrest operations in Hasakah province,” Abu Qasra told the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA).

He warned that the arbitrary arrests by the group “threaten the ceasefire in its entirety.”

The defense minister called on the SDF to “immediately stop these arbitrary arrests and release all detainees.”