Damascus, March 23 (SANA) Syrian authorities have detained individuals involved in incidents during Newroz celebrations in Afrin and Kobani (Ain al-Arab) in Aleppo countryside, northern Syria, including the removal of the national flag, according to an official statement.
Ahmad al-Hilali, spokesperson for the presidential team overseeing implementation of the Jan. 29 agreement with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), said security forces acted to contain tensions and prevent escalation.
Al-Hilali said SDF commander Mazloum Abdi had committed to halting arrests on political grounds, adding that no recent cases had been recorded, which he described as a positive indicator.
He added that key priorities include addressing detainee cases and facilitating the return of displaced persons, alongside efforts to clarify the fate of missing individuals and coordinate the return of residents from Ras al-Ayn.
Al-Hilali said ongoing integration efforts aim to unify state institutions and end parallel administrative structures, noting that a recent decree affirming Kurdish rights has been positively received.
Separately, authorities said incidents during Nowruz celebrations in Afrin and Kobani prompted public reactions in several areas, with local security officials in Aleppo pledging to take legal measures against those involved.
A decree issued on Jan. 16, 2026, affirmed that Kurdish Syrians are an integral part of the Syrian people and recognized their cultural and linguistic identity as part of the country’s national fabric, while designating March 21 as an official holiday.
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