The final Kurdish fighters have withdrawn from the Syrian city of Aleppo, following the announcement of a ceasefire deal in the early hours of Sunday morning.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), stated that the agreement was reached through international mediation, ensuring the safe evacuation of ‘martyrs, the wounded, the trapped civilians and the fighters’ from the city.
Buses escorting the last members of the SDF were seen leaving the Kurdish-majority neighborhood of Sheikh Maqsoud, as reported by local media.
The recent hostilities in Aleppo erupted after negotiations for the Kurds' integration into Syria's new government faltered.
At least 12 individuals lost their lives in the latest violence, which also resulted in the displacement of tens of thousands of residents forced to flee Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh due to escalating conflict.
The Syrian army responded by shelling designated ‘closed military areas’ in these neighborhoods, claiming to target armed groups operating in the vicinity. The SDF, however, asserted that it does not maintain a military presence in Aleppo, condemning the shelling as a 'criminal attempt' to forcibly displace civilians.
Although a ceasefire had been proposed earlier in the week, Kurdish forces had initially refused to vacate their last stronghold in Sheikh Maqsoud. The ceasefire was mediated by the United States and other global powers, spurred by concerns over potential Turkish military intervention linked to the ongoing tensions.
Turkey, which supports the Syrian government, regards the Kurdish militias governing the SDF as terrorist organizations. U.S. officials have expressed a desire for all involved parties to embrace restraint and return to dialogue amidst the ongoing crisis.
