Syrian Defense Announces Ceasefire in Aleppo Ahead of 'Departure of Armed Groups'

SadaNews - The Syrian Ministry of Defense announced early Friday the cessation of hostilities around the neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud, Ashrafieh, and Bani Zaid in the city of Aleppo.

The ministry stated in a communiqué that the ceasefire began at 03:00 AM, urging armed groups in the neighborhoods to leave the area within the timeframe starting from the ceasefire until 09:00 AM on Friday. It confirmed that militants could leave carrying only their light personal weapons, adding that the Syrian army "commits to providing their escort and ensuring their safe passage until they reach areas in the northeast of the country."

It further emphasized that "this measure aims to end the military situation in these neighborhoods, paving the way for the return of the law and official institutions, as well as enabling families who were forced to leave their homes to return, so they can resume their normal lives in a secure and stable atmosphere."

The ministry urged all concerned parties to strictly adhere to the specified timeframe, ensuring the safety of everyone and preventing any field friction, indicating that the internal security forces, in coordination with the operations department of the Syrian army, would arrange the exit mechanism for armed groups from the neighborhoods towards northeast Syria.

Just hours before the statement, units of the Syrian army had established control over most of the Ashrafieh neighborhood, one of the areas occupied by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the northern city of Aleppo. The spokesperson for the Syrian Interior Ministry explained that the Ashrafieh neighborhood has "become friendly" and that "advances are continuing on other fronts," noting that the ministry's units are working "to secure the Ashrafieh neighborhood from mines, as the SDF had planted explosives in homes and commercial shops."

According to information from military sources involved in concentrated operations against the SDF, army units entered the neighborhood from the south, west, and north, managing to control it "to a large extent." The special task force units from the Syrian Interior Ministry also entered Ashrafieh and began conducting search and combing operations in the neighborhood, according to the sources.

Syrian state television reported that army forces now control parts of the Ashrafieh and Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhoods in Aleppo, in collaboration with local residents and clans in the area, following clashes with the SDF. It added that the army and internal security forces are advancing in the Ashrafieh neighborhood following an attempted counterattack by the SDF.

The SDF reported that 12 people were killed and 64 injured in the government forces' attack on Ashrafieh and Sheikh Maqsoud, in the city that has been experiencing tension since last month.

The internal security leadership in Aleppo province announced on Thursday evening a complete curfew in the neighborhoods of Ashrafieh, Sheikh Maqsoud, Bani Zaid, Al-Suriyan, Al-Halk, and Al-Midan, starting from that evening until further notice.

The security leadership clarified that the curfew comes "out of concern for the safety of residents and within the framework of measures taken to secure safety and prevent any violations that could endanger lives and property."

It stressed that "any movement within the neighborhoods covered by this decree is strictly prohibited during the hours of the curfew, without any exceptions."

A government source told Syrian state television that internal security forces continue combing operations in the Ashrafieh neighborhood in Aleppo "with great care to secure families prevented by the SDF from leaving and providing them with support," confirming that "security forces are advancing at a measured pace on other fronts to ensure that no harm comes to civilians."

He added: "The squeeze is tightening on those remaining from the SDF elements, and we urge them to prioritize reason and surrender their weapons to end the chaos and crisis they have caused for all residents of Aleppo. "

Earlier, the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported from the "Central Committee for Aleppo Response" that the number of fatalities in the clashes had reached 10, with 88 injured. A Syrian government source stated that residents of the Sheikh Maqsoud, Ashrafieh, and Bani Zaid neighborhoods in Aleppo had begun to hand over parts of these neighborhoods to the authorities.

The source told Syrian news outlet "Al-Ikhbariya" that the handover process comes "amidst repeated defections from members of the SDF. The internal security forces are preparing to establish security within the area."

The internal security leadership in Aleppo province held the SDF (Syrian Democratic Forces) "fully responsible for the shelling and random gunfire targeting residential neighborhoods and areas populated by civilians, which resulted in casualties among civilians."

The internal security leadership in Aleppo province called on all elements affiliated with the SDF to "defect immediately and surrender their weapons without delay, and to initiate communication with the relevant authorities," providing a phone number for this purpose.

The Syrian government emphasized that "the Kurds are an essential and integral component of the Syrian people, and the state views them as full partners in the homeland, not as a separate party or an exception."

The Syrian government stated, according to SANA, that "the solution cannot be through exhausted media rhetoric or mutual accusations, but through resorting to state institutions, being the only guarantor of the country's unity and protection of all citizens."

The government pointed out that "the chaos and field escalation we are witnessing is a direct result of the SDF's violation of the agreement on April 1, which led to destabilizing previous understandings and opened the door to tension and instability."

It stressed that "the role of the state currently focuses on securing the surroundings of the city of Aleppo, removing sources of fire from it, protecting civilians, and preventing the situation from escalating further."

It called for "the expulsion of militia forces from the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh neighborhoods, and ending this military situation that threatens civilian lives and hinders any serious political solution."

SANA reported on Thursday that the army announced a curfew from 01:30 PM until further notice in the Sheikh Maqsoud, Ashrafieh, and Bani Zaid neighborhoods in Aleppo; to strike at elements of the SDF, while warning the SDF of the military operation, confirming it as an attempt to forcibly displace civilians from their homes.