Attacks on Kurds at Nowruz Celebrations in Afrin Draw Calls for Calm from Syrian Official and U.S. Envoy

Peregraf — Scattered incidents of violence and protest during Nowruz celebrations in northern Syria have heightened ethnic tensions, as Syrian Assistant Defense Minister Sipan Hemo and U.S. Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack called for restraint and unity.

In the district of Afrin, witnesses and local reports said youths from Arab extremist groups attacked Kurdish families gathered to celebrate the Kurdish New Year. The assailants reportedly insulted Kurdish symbols, including the Kurdistan flag, and injured several young participants.

The violence triggered swift reactions in Kurdish-majority areas, particularly in Kobani and Qamishli, where Kurdish youths staged protests. Some demonstrators lowered the Syrian flag, expressing anger over the Afrin incidents. Videos circulating widely on social media showed both the attacks and the protests, amplifying outrage across Kurdish communities.

Amid the escalating tensions, Hemo, Syria's Assistant Minister of Defense for the Eastern Region and a senior commander within the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), described the violence as stemming from an isolated incident that was being exploited to inflame divisions.

"Some are exploiting such individual events to sow discord among the various components of the Syrian people," Hemo said in a statement, calling on citizens to remain calm and avoid being drawn into strife.

He condemned both the attacks on Kurds and the lowering of the Syrian flag, saying that "those who lowered the Syrian flag in the city of Kobani and those who insult the Kurdish people and their symbols share the same mentality aimed at division and sedition."

Hemo urged residents to stay home, continue holiday celebrations peacefully, and respect national and ethnic symbols. He added that authorities would hold anyone responsible for violence or actions that threaten stability accountable, stressing that "the law will take its course."

The remarks drew a response from Washington. Barrack, who also serves as U.S. Ambassador to Turkey, reposted Hemo's statement on X, highlighting his call for coexistence and respect for national symbols.

"We must work together to stabilize the region, strengthen peaceful coexistence among all Syrian components, and respect the Syrian flag, which represents all Syrians," Hemo wrote — a passage Barrack described as "important words and great leadership at a key moment."

The incidents underscore the fragility of intercommunal relations in northern Syria, where overlapping authorities and unresolved conflict continue to complicate efforts toward stability and coexistence.