Syria govt prepares to transfer SDF fighters from Aleppo as local councils refuse 'surrender' offer

A ceasefire between the Syrian government and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces in Aleppo appeared to hold early on Friday, as Damascus prepared efforts to move SDF fighters out of neighbourhoods held by the group in the city following days of violence.

The violence killed 21 people and was the latest challenge to the new government in Damascus, still struggling to unify the country following a series of uprisings by minority groups and factions.

Since Tuesday, government forces have been fighting the SDF in three key neighbourhoods in Aleppo, the country's second city.

Kurdish fighters were given until 9am Friday (6am GMT) to leave Ashrafiyeh, Bani Zeid and Sheikh Maqsoud, while the Aleppo governorate said the fighters would be sent, along with their light weapons, to Kurdish-held areas further east.

A local source told The New Arab's Arabic-language sister site, Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, that around 50 buses entered Sheikh Maqsoud after the ceasefire was announced at 3am local time.

The source added that while there was no specific number of fighters set to leave the SDF-held enclave, the Kurdish-dominated group had gathered its forces in Sheikh Maqsoud after withdrawing from the Ashrafiyeh and Bani Zeid neighbourhoods.

Some SDF fighters had withdrawn from the Aleppo enclaves following an agreement with the government in March, but some internal security forces remained in Sheikh Maqsood when The New Arab visited in April.

The deal was intended to integrate the SDF and civilian authority into the Syrian government and military, but the roll out has not gone ahead as planned.

The goal of this week's ceasefire is for civilians who were displaced by the fighting to be able "to return and resume their normal lives in an atmosphere of security and stability", the defence ministry said.

Kurdish fighters, however, are refusing to leave the Ashrafiyeh and Sheikh Maqsoud areas in the city of Aleppo and intend to "resist" the Syrian army encircling them, a statement by the local councils of the two neighbourhoods said Friday.

"We have decided to remain in our districts and defend them," the statement said, rejecting any "surrender".

Calls for calm

The United States welcomed the ceasefire in a post on X by its envoy Tom Barrack.

He said Washington hoped for "a more enduring calm and deeper dialogue" and was "working intensively to extend this ceasefire and spirit of understanding".

However, SDF leader Mazloum Abdi, said the government attacks on the SDF strongholds "undermine the chances of reaching understandings", days after he visited Damascus for talks on the March integration deal.

Meanwhile, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa spoke to French President Emmanuel Macron and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday to discuss Syria's security situation and plans for reconstruction.

Al-Sharaa and Erdogan's call focused on recent developments in Aleppo, as well as efforts to tackle "illegal armed activities".

The Turkish president reiterated his support for Damascus' efforts to stabilise the country and tackle militancy.

Speaking to Macron, the Syrian leader thanked France for its support in Syria's transition and spoke on potential future cooperation.