SDF announces the withdrawal of the SDF forces from the seam areas east of Aleppo

Mazloum Abdi, commander of the Syria Democratic Forces (SDF), announced the withdrawal of his forces from the seam areas east of Aleppo, explaining that the decision came in response to the demands of countries he described as “friendly”, in addition to existing mediation efforts.

Abdi said in a post on X on Friday evening that the move comes within the framework of showing good faith to complete the merger process and implement the terms of the March 10 agreement, noting that the withdrawal will take place the next morning (Saturday) at 7 pm.

He explained that the repositioning will take place towards areas east of the Euphrates, after two days of tension and attacks in the vicinity of eastern Aleppo.

A high-level delegation from the international coalition held a meeting with military leaders from the SDF in the town of Deir Hafer in the eastern countryside of Aleppo, followed by a joint patrol inside the city, with a subsequent meeting to be held in Raqqa.

On the other hand, the operations team of the Syrian Army warned of the continuation of security threats to the city of Aleppo and its eastern countryside, stressing that the risks still exist despite mediation efforts.

The commission stated that it monitored the arrival of Bahouz Erdal from the Qandil Mountains to the Tabqa area, to manage military operations for the benefit of the SDF and groups linked to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), in addition to the arrival of Ali Kayyali (Miraj Ural) with elements of the remnants of the former Assad regime.

It also pointed out that large numbers of Iranian drones have been introduced towards the areas of Maskana and Deir Hafer, as part of preparations for new attacks targeting civilians.

In related context, the death toll of Syrian soldiers rose to 4 on Saturday, as a result of their targeting by SDF militants in the provinces of Aleppo and Raqqa in the north and northeast of the country, as part of the organization’s violations of the agreement with the government.

The Information and Communication Department of the Syrian Ministry of Defense said in a statement to the official Syrian news agency SANA: “PKK militias are targeting the Syrian Arab Army forces in the town of Debsi Afnan, west of Raqqa (northeast) with suicide drones, which led to the martyrdom of two soldiers”.

This brings the number of dead soldiers to 4, after the Syrian army announced the death of two soldiers on Saturday, by SDF fire, the front of the YPG organization in Syria, in the city of Maskanah in the countryside of Aleppo in the north of the country, according to SANA.

Earlier on Saturday, the Syrian army declared the area west of the Euphrates a closed military zone after the PKK militias targeted the army forces while implementing the agreement.

The Syrian army also announced its control over the town of Debsi Afnan and headed towards the city of Tabqa in Raqqa province.

The Syrian army continues to extend its control over the west of the Euphrates River, after the withdrawal of the SDF, towards the east of the Euphrates.

In successive statements to SANA news agency on Saturday, the army announced that it had extended its military control over the entire cities of Deir Hafer and Maskanah in the eastern countryside of Aleppo, and was heading towards the city of Tabqa in Raqqa province.

On Monday, the Syrian army sent forces to the east of Aleppo city, after monitoring the arrival of more armed groups of the SDF and elements of the ousted Assad regime near the cities of Maskanah and Deir Hafer.

The SDF is renouncing the implementation of the terms of an agreement it concluded with the government on March 10, 2025, which stipulates the integration of civil and military institutions in the northeastern regions of the country into the state administration.

The agreement also stipulates the reopening of crossings, airports, and oil and gas fields in these areas, and emphasizes the country’s territorial integrity and the withdrawal of ISIS forces from Aleppo to the east of the Euphrates.

The Syrian government has been making intensive efforts to control security in the country since the overthrow of Assad’s regime on December 8, 2024, after 24 years in power.