During the reference period, the main security development in Hasaka governorate was the SDF’s loss of territorial control and the expansion of transitional government authority.827 This shift in control was accompanied by clashes, especially in the areas of Al-Shaddadeh,828 and Tell Tamer.829 During the January battles, there were reported allegations of abuses by both parties in north-eastern Syria.830 One consequence of the fighting and change in territorial control was the release of hundreds of ISIL fighters from Al-Shaddadeh prison,831 as well as as the transfer of control of the Al-Hol camp from the SDF to the transitional government and832 confirmed ‘mass escapes’ from Al-Hol camp, Syria’s largest camp for relatives of suspected ISIL fighters.833 In February 2026, UNHCR announced the closure of the camp.834
By March, IOM described the situation in Hasaka as relatively stable, with no major clashes reported,835 although tensions continued to be noted in Ras Al-Ain.836 In April, it was reported that a security vacuum in Markada subdistrict south of Hasaka city resulted in a surge of thefts.837 Meanwhile, urban areas, including Hasaka city and Qamishli, witnessed renewed and increased security deployments in the streets, stricter inspections, and the spread of temporary SDF checkpoints.838
In March and April 2026, drones were reportedly shot down over Hasaka governorate in connection with the US-Israel-Iran conflict.839
Compared with the preceding reporting period, the configuration of actors involved in hostilities in the governorate changed. While late 2024 and early 2025 were marked by fighting between Türkiye/SNA and the SDF,840 the reference period was characterised by confrontations involving government forces and the SDF.841 Incidents affecting civilians, attributed to unidentified armed groups as well as the SDF, were recorded throughout the period since December 2024.842 The number of ISIL attacks, specifically those targeting security personnel of the then-autonomous region,843 gradually decreased after December 2024.844
- 827
ISW and CTP, Assessed Control of Terrain in Syria November 10, 2025 at 2:00 PM ET [Map], 10 November 2025, url; ISW and CTP, Assessed Control of Terrain in Syria, February 16, 2026 at 2:00 PM ET [Map], 16 February 2026, url; Aftandilian, G., The Shrinking Space for Kurdish Autonomy in Syria, Arab Center Washington DC, 26 February 2026, url
- 828
Etana Syria, Brief: Raqqa, Deir Ezzor fall to interim authorities, 21 January 2026, url
- 829
Enab Baladi, Clashes Erupt on Tell Tamer Front, First Direct Fighting Reported Between Syrian Government Forces and “SDF”, 30 January 2026, url
- 830
MEI, Integration or conflict in northeastern Syria? Ten key points to consider, 29 January 2026, url; Synergy Hevdesti, From Aleppo to Al-Hasakah: Civilians Caught Between Bombardment, Disappearances, and Attacks on Dignity and Identity, 24 February 2026, url, p. 11; Lister, C., Syria Weekly: January 20-27, 2026, 27 January 2026, Syria Weekly, url
- 831
Schmidinger T., Kurdish Autonomy in Northern and Eastern Syria Is Under Threat, Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung, 23 January 2026, url
- 832
HRW, Syria: Civilian Protection Lacking in Northeast Escalation, 25 January 2026, url
- 833
Al Jazeera, Syria confirms ‘mass escape’ from camp housing relatives of ISIL fighters, 26 February 2026, url; France24, Chaos as jihadist relatives left Syrian camp, witnesses say, 26 February 2026, url
- 834
UN Human Rights Council, Report of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic, A/HRC/61/62, 12 March 2026, url, para. 98
- 835
IOM, Syrian Arab Republic: Emergency Mobility Tracking Situation Report Aleppo/ North East Syria (NES) Conflict – Round 14, 4 March 2026, url, p. 1
- 836
IOM, Syrian Arab Republic: Emergency Mobility Tracking Situation Report Aleppo/ North East Syria (NES) Conflict – Round 14, 4 March 2026, url, p. 1; IOM, Syrian Arab Republic: Emergency Mobility Tracking Situation Report Aleppo/ North East Syria (NES) Conflict – Round 15, 11 March 2026, url, p. 1
- 837
Enab Baladi, Syria: al-Hasakah Security Vacuum Drives Theft Surge in Markada, 24 April 2026, url
- 838
Enab Balasi, Security Alert in al-Hasakah, Tight Measures and Arrests, 23 April 2026, url; Enab Baladi, SDF Launches Month-Long Campaign in al-Hasakah, 3 June 2026, url
- 839
SOHR, Believed to be Iranian | Coalition’s air defence systems shoots drone in Al-Hasakah countryside, 20 March 2026, url; Enab Baladi, Al-Hasakah: Coalition Shoots Down Drones, Iranian Missile Intercepted Near al-Qamishli, 3 April 2026, url; SOHR, Al-Hasakah | Coalition shoots down drone attempting to attack Qasrek base, 4 April 2026, url
- 840
ISW and CTP, Iran Update, March 21, 2025, 21 March 2025, url, p. 8
- 841
EUAA analysis based on ACLED data. ACLED, Data Export Tool, Syria, data covering 9 December 2024 to 31 May 2026, as of 9 June 2026, url
- 842
EUAA analysis based on ACLED data. ACLED, Data Export Tool, Syria, data covering 9 December 2024 to 31 May 2026, as of 9 June 2026, url
- 843
Al Jazeera, ISIL group kills five Kurdish fighters in attack in eastern Syria, 28 April 2025, url; Rudaw, Five Kurdish security forces killed by ISIS in northeast Syria: War monitor, 15 July 2025, url; SOHR, ISIS new attack | Gunfire on SDF military post in southern Al-Hasakah, 12 September 2025, url
- 844
EUAA analysis based on ACLED data. ACLED, Data Export Tool, Syria, data covering 9 December 2024 to 31 May 2026, as of 9 June 2026, url