The Syrian government has declared ceasefire in Kurdish neighbourhoods of Aleppo following days of deadly clashes with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), said the country’s Defence Ministry late on Thursday.
“The ceasefire took effect at 12 a.m. local time on Friday, covering Sheikh Maqsoud, Ashrafieh, and Bani Zeid. The Aleppo security command simultaneously imposed a curfew in several Kurdish-majority areas of the city,” said the ministry in a statement.
At least 22 people have been killed and more than 100,000 have fled Aleppo after clashes erupted between government forces and the SDF, which controls large areas of northern and eastern Syria.
On Thursday, fighting intensified when government forces attempted to advance into several SDF-held areas and demanded withdrawal of militia groups. Video footage from Aleppo showed the two sides engaged in a firefight, with Syrian forces mobilising drones against the rebels.
Also Read: Thousands flee Syria as armed clashes enter third day
The Syrian government blames the SDF militiamen for tensions and instability in the country and accuses the group of violating a previous agreement reached in April, which granted Kurdish leaders limited autonomy in certain areas.
A broader agreement, meant to reintegrate SDF-led civil and military structures into the central government by the end of 2025, was never implemented with the SDF blaming the government for going back on its word and asserting that its militias had withdrawn “openly and in a documented manner” months ago.
It also claimed it handed over control of the neighbourhoods to government forces. The group is said to have received backing from Washington throughout the civil war in Syria.
However, recent agreements between Damascus and Washington have created uncertainties over the future of the SDF forces in the country.
The current Ahmed al-Sharaa-led government in Syria demands complete surrender of weapons by the SDF and ceasefire in fighting to bring stability to the country.
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