Developments in Aleppo suggest a potential shift in control towards the Syrian state. Recent events in the Sheikh Maqsood and Ashrafieh districts of northern Aleppo indicate a weakening of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) presence in the area.
The Syrian Army has reportedly dislodged SDF units from these key districts. Following the withdrawal of SDF fighters, internal security forces have been deployed in Sheikh Maqsood, ostensibly to restore security and stability. The Ministry of Interior has also initiated patrols in the neighboring Ashrafieh district to reinforce stability. However, the SDF maintains that claims of a cessation of hostilities are merely attempts to mislead the public.
Beyond Ashrafieh and Sheikh Maqsood, the SDF has lost control of Manbij and the eastern Deir ez-Zor countryside over the past year. Despite these losses, the SDF continues to control approximately half of the Deir ez-Zor province and significant portions of the Raqqa province. Their control over the Hasakah province remains largely intact.
Overall, the SDF maintains a presence in its northeastern Syrian strongholds, controlling an estimated 25% of the country’s territory.
US Concerns Emerge
These developments coincide with diplomatic activity. US Envoy to Syria, Tom Barrack, reportedly met with Syrian President Ahmed al-Shara. Barrack stated that the events in Aleppo appear to be deeply concerning and threaten the agreements signed between Damascus and the SDF.
The US Envoy expressed the US State Department’s willingness to facilitate dialogue between Syrian authorities and the SDF, based on the March 10th and April 1st, 2025 agreements. These agreements stipulated the integration of SDF forces and the civil self-administration in northeastern Syria into central Syrian state institutions.
For years, the SDF has been a US ally, primarily due to its control over most Syrian oil fields and its role in the international coalition’s fight against the Islamic State. The escalation in Aleppo presents a complex and potentially destabilizing scenario.
