The final Kurdish fighters have withdrawn from the Syrian city of Aleppo, following the announcement of a ceasefire deal in the early hours of Sunday morning.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 an agreement had been reached through international mediation, securing the safe evacuation of martyrs, the wounded, the trapped civilians and the fighters from the city.
Buses conveying the last SDF members were seen departing the Kurdish-majority neighborhood of Sheikh Maqsoud, as reports from local media confirmed the movement.
The recent clashes began earlier this week, triggered by stalled negotiations aimed at integrating the Kurds into Syria's new government framework.
At least twelve fatalities were recorded in the latest wave of violence, which resulted in the displacement of tens of thousands. The Syrian army launched artillery fire on the area after designating neighborhoods as closed military zones, in reaction to alleged attacks from armed factions.
The SDF, maintaining they had no military presence in Aleppo, condemned the government's actions as a deliberate attempt to forcibly displace residents.
A ceasefire had been proposed earlier in the week, however, Kurdish forces initially resisted leaving the Sheikh Maksoud stronghold.
In March 2025, the Kurdish-led SDF had initiated a deal to integrate all military and civilian institutions into the Syrian state, but both parties accused each other of derailing these negotiations. Almost a year later, the agreement remains unrealized.
The latest ceasefire agreement was facilitated by the US and other international powers amid concerns that the situation in Aleppo could escalate, potentially provoking Turkey's involvement. Turkey supports the Syrian government and labels the Kurdish militia, which dominates the SDF, as a terrorist organization.
Tom Barrack, the US ambassador to Turkey and special envoy to Syria, recently met with the Syrian president to advocate for restraint, an immediate cessation of hostilities, and a return to dialogue consistent with the March agreement. He expressed the US’s support for Syria's historic transition and pledged to aid President Ahmed al-Sharaa in stabilizing the nation.
