Syrian Army Announces Entry into Eastern Aleppo Areas Following SDF Withdrawal

SadaNews - The Syrian army announced on Saturday that its forces have begun entering areas located east of the city of Aleppo, following the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) announcement of their agreement to withdraw after clashes.

In a statement broadcast by the official Syrian television, it was stated, "The vanguard of the Syrian Arab Army has begun to enter the area west of the Euphrates starting from the city of Deir Hafer."

The Syrian army previously called on civilians not to enter the city of Deir Hafer in eastern Aleppo countryside, amid calm in the city before the SDF's withdrawal this morning.

The Syrian army's operations authority stated in a statement received by the German news agency: "We urge our civilian population not to enter the operational area (previously defined) in eastern Aleppo countryside, until the Syrian Arab Army completes securing it and clearing mines and war remnants from it, for your safety."

The operations authority also confirmed that "the SDF organization will not be targeted during its withdrawal."

Local sources in the Deir Hafer area reported: "The city is calm as the timing of the withdrawal of SDF forces from the city towards Raqqa has arrived, and no movement of forces has been observed."

The media and communication department in the Syrian Ministry of Defense reported: "The withdrawal of SDF forces from west of the Euphrates will begin starting this morning (Saturday), after which the Syrian Arab Army will start entering the area."

The Syrian Ministry of Defense welcomed the decision of the "Syrian Democratic Forces" to withdraw from the contact areas west of the Euphrates River, confirming that it will closely monitor the completion of this withdrawal with all equipment and personnel to the east of the river.

The ministry said in a statement late Friday - Saturday, reported by the "Syria TV" website, that units from the "Syrian Arab Army forces will begin, in parallel, to deploy in those areas to secure them and impose state sovereignty, in preparation for the safe and swift return of residents to their homes and villages."

The ministry added that "these steps come as part of restoring stability to the area and beginning the return of state institutions to carry out their duties and provide necessary services to the population."

A special source confirmed to "Syria TV" that fire on the sites designated by the military operations authority in the Syrian army has been halted, awaiting the SDF's implementation of its withdrawal decision.

Tens of thousands of civilians have fled from the cities of Deir Hafer and Maskanah towards areas controlled by the Syrian army, and moving towards Raqqa province after the Syrian army opened a safe corridor in the village of Hamima west of Deir Hafer, but the SDF forces prevented locals from heading to the crossing, causing them to exit through dirt agricultural roads and water passages.

The Syrian army began concentrated bombing operations in the city of Deir Hafer in eastern Aleppo countryside against SDF sites last night (Friday).

The Syrian army's operations authority stated in a statement: "Our response has begun against the positions of the terrorist (PKK) militia and the remnants of the fallen regime allied with the SDF in the city of Deir Hafer, which has been disseminated shortly ago."

The operations authority confirmed that "these sites are military bases for the SDF and its allies, from which Iranian suicide drones have launched towards our civilians in the city of Aleppo, and they play a significant role in shelling eastern Aleppo countryside and preventing the locals from leaving the area."