Authorities announced a “humanitarian zone” would be open on Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. local time (6:00–14:00 GMT), allowing residents to leave Deir Hafer and Maskana in eastern Aleppo
By Owoseni Mathins
The Syrian army has instructed civilians to evacuate parts of Aleppo’s rural countryside after accusing the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) of amassing troops in the area, following days of deadly clashes inside Aleppo city and raising concerns over a potential new front.
Authorities announced a “humanitarian zone” would be open on Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. local time (6:00–14:00 GMT), allowing residents to leave Deir Hafer and Maskana in eastern Aleppo.
The army has declared the areas closed military zones and reinforced its positions earlier this week.
“A convoy this heavily armed, carrying troops, is far more than a show of strength,” . “It shows how committed the Syrian government is to counter areas currently under SDF control,” says Observers.
Clashes between the U.S.-backed, Kurdish-led SDF and Syrian army have left at least 23 people dead over the past week. Despite a March deal to integrate the SDF into Syrian state institutions, stalled negotiations have reignited conflict.
A ceasefire on January 9 allowed SDF fighters to withdraw from Aleppo’s Ashrafieh and Sheikh Maqsoud neighbourhoods to northeastern Syria, where the SDF controls a semi-autonomous zone.
In Deir Hafer and Maskana, the army has demanded that the SDF pull back to the east side of the Euphrates River.
The two sides have exchanged sporadic fire.
The Syrian government has also accused the SDF of conducting drone strikes in Aleppo city, including one that struck the governorate building on Saturday shortly after a government press conference.
The SDF, meanwhile, has accused the army of attacking infrastructure and facilities in Deir Hafer.
In an interview aired on state television Wednesday, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa expressed admiration for the Kurdish people’s “courage” but criticised the SDF for refusing to allow civilians safe passage and for obstructing U.S. and French mediation efforts for a ceasefire.
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