News|Syria's WarSyrian army launches strikes against Kurdish-led SDF east of AleppoSDF’s Mazloum Abdi says he will withdraw forces east of Euphrates, as President al-Sharaa issues Kurdish rights decree.
The Syrian army has initiated a military operation against Kurdish forces in the Kurdish-controlled area of Deir Hafer, following clashes in Aleppo.
The Syrian army has initiated a military operation against Kurdish forces in the Kurdish-controlled area of Deir Hafer, following clashes in Aleppo.
The army announced on Fri, issuing warnings before conducting strikes on the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Deir Hafer, approximately 50 kilometers east of Aleppo. The focus was on regions used by Kurdish forces for launching operations towards Aleppo and its eastern countryside.
SDF leader Mazloum Abdi, also known as Mazloum Kobani, stated that his forces would relocate east of the Euphrates River. The withdrawal was scheduled for the next morning at 7 AM (04:00 GMT), following calls from international mediators.
This withdrawal aligns with efforts to implement the provisions of the March 10th agreement, which aimed to integrate the Kurdish de facto autonomous administration into the Syrian state by the end of 2025. Delays in implementation contributed to recent conflicts in Aleppo, resulting in casualties.
The Syrian army has initiated a military operation against Kurdish forces in the Kurdish-controlled area of Deir Hafer, following clashes in Aleppo.
As the Syrian forces progressed, significant numbers of civilians fled, including over 150,000 from Aleppo. The SDF had controlled parts of Syria's north and northeast since the start of the civil war in 2011. By Sun, Syrian troops had regained full control of Aleppo.
Despite diplomatic efforts from a United States-led coalition seeking to ease tensions, at least 4,000 individuals evacuated the Deir Hafer area following an army-issued deadline.
In a gesture following the Aleppo conflict, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa issued a decree recognizing Kurdish as a national language. This decree is a historic acknowledgment of Kurdish rights since Syria's independence in 1946. It includes making Nowruz, the Kurdish new year on March 21, an official holiday and granting nationality to Kurds affected by the 1962 census.
President al-Sharaa encouraged Kurdish participation in nation-building and promised to ensure their rights in a televised address announcing the decree.
Based on reporting by Al Jazeera.
