Syrian Army Enters Deir Hafer Following SDF Withdrawal

Government Troops Enter Aleppo Governorate Territory

Syrian government troops have entered Deir Hafer, a city located approximately 50km east of Aleppo city, in the Aleppo governorate. This marks a shift in territorial control in the region.

According to reports, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) announced on Friday that it would withdraw from its strongholds east of Aleppo at 7am local time on Saturday and relocate its forces to areas east of the Euphrates River. The SDF commander, Mazloum Abdi, made this announcement via X.

The Ministry of Defence in Syria expressed support for the SDF’s withdrawal decision, stating that it would monitor the complete implementation of the plan before deploying Syrian military forces to assert state authority in the vacated regions.

Prior to the withdrawal, Syrian military officials reported initiating shelling operations against bases belonging to a militia affiliated with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and former regime elements allied with the SDF in Deir Hafer.

The United States has encouraged both parties to avoid confrontation and resume negotiations, according to Syrian officials and diplomatic sources. The US aims to establish lasting peace in Syria to enhance broader Middle East stability and prevent ISIL resurgence.

Extensive talks between the two sides took place throughout last year, with a focus on integrating Kurdish-administered military and civilian institutions into Syrian state structures by the end of 2025.

Source: Al Jazeera