The Syrian Army has significantly reduced the territory controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Aleppo, regaining control of the Ashrafiyeh and Bani Zeid districts. Operations are ongoing in the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood.
Syrian military operations command announced that Sheikh Maqsoud has been designated a closed military zone. A complete curfew is in effect from 6:30 PM until further notice, following the breakdown of an agreement for the withdrawal of SDF fighters who remained entrenched in the area.
According to a military source, elements within the SDF, reportedly linked to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), are insisting on continuing the fight, despite the army granting them an extended deadline to withdraw after the initial deadline passed.
The Ministry of Defense stated that armed groups inside Sheikh Maqsoud include remnants of the previous regime, PKK elements, and foreign fighters. The repeated extensions granted to the fighters reflect a commitment to ensuring the safety of civilians. The army’s actions are intended to support internal security forces in establishing security, restoring normalcy, and resuming the operations of state institutions.
Reports indicate that internal security forces secured the defection of 100 SDF members in Aleppo province, including the head of checkpoints and his deputy. Colonel Mohammed Abdel Ghani, the head of internal security in Aleppo, emphasized the Syrian state’s commitment to supporting national initiatives that alleviate the suffering of the province’s residents and its impartiality towards all components of Syrian society.
Recent clashes have led to a contraction of SDF-controlled areas in Aleppo city, with their presence now primarily confined to the Sheikh Maqsoud district following the Syrian security forces’ entry into Ashrafiyeh and Bani Zeid. Bulldozers have reopened the Castello Road, which had been closed for years. However, the Raqqa-Deir ez-Zor road has been closed until further notice.
The SDF claims to be under heavy and sustained bombardment in Sheikh Maqsoud, utilizing various heavy weapons and tanks. The situation remains tense as military operations continue.
