The final Kurdish fighters have withdrawn from the Syrian city of Aleppo, following the announcement of a ceasefire deal in the early hours of Sunday morning. Mazloum Abdi, leader of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), confirmed that the agreement was made through international mediation, allowing for the safe evacuation of 'martyrs, the wounded, the trapped civilians and the fighters' from Aleppo. Local media captured buses carrying the last SDF members as they departed the Kurdish-majority neighborhood of Sheikh Maqsoud.
Clashes had intensified earlier this week after negotiations to integrate Kurdish forces into Syria's new government hit a deadlock, resulting in at least 12 deaths and the displacement of tens of thousands of civilians. The Syrian army began shelling the area, deeming Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh 'closed military areas' due to alleged attacks by armed groups.
This recent ceasefire follows a previous agreement that was rejected by Kurdish forces, who insisted they had no military presence in Aleppo, describing the situation as a 'criminal attempt' to forcibly displace them. The ceasefire agreement was mediated by the US and other global powers due to concerns regarding Turkey's potential involvement, given Turkey's support of the Syrian government and designation of the SDF as a terrorist group. The US ambassador to Turkey urged all parties to exhibit restraint and return to dialogue to stabilize the region, emphasizing the importance of the March agreement aimed at integrating Kurdish forces into the Syrian state.
Clashes had intensified earlier this week after negotiations to integrate Kurdish forces into Syria's new government hit a deadlock, resulting in at least 12 deaths and the displacement of tens of thousands of civilians. The Syrian army began shelling the area, deeming Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh 'closed military areas' due to alleged attacks by armed groups.
This recent ceasefire follows a previous agreement that was rejected by Kurdish forces, who insisted they had no military presence in Aleppo, describing the situation as a 'criminal attempt' to forcibly displace them. The ceasefire agreement was mediated by the US and other global powers due to concerns regarding Turkey's potential involvement, given Turkey's support of the Syrian government and designation of the SDF as a terrorist group. The US ambassador to Turkey urged all parties to exhibit restraint and return to dialogue to stabilize the region, emphasizing the importance of the March agreement aimed at integrating Kurdish forces into the Syrian state.
