The final Kurdish fighters have withdrawn from the Syrian city of Aleppo, after the announcement of a ceasefire deal in the early hours of Sunday morning.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 achieved through international mediation, ensuring the safe evacuation of 'martyrs, the wounded, the trapped civilians and the fighters' from the city.
Buses carrying the last SDF members were seen leaving the Kurdish-majority neighborhood of Sheikh Maqsoud, according to local media reports.
This wave of violence began earlier in the week when negotiations to integrate Kurdish forces into Syria's new government reached an impasse, leading to clashes and heightened tensions.
At least 12 people lost their lives in the recent outbreak of violence, which forced tens of thousands of civilians to flee Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh. The Syrian army targeted these areas with shelling after declaring them 'closed military areas', claiming it was in response to armed group activities.
The Kurdish-led SDF has insisted on its non-military presence in Aleppo, denouncing the Syrian army's actions as an unlawful attempt to displace residents.
Although a ceasefire was proposed earlier, Kurdish forces remained in the Sheikh Maqsoud stronghold until this recent agreement.
In March 2025, the Kurdish-led SDF, controlling much of northeastern Syria, signed a deal for the integration of military and civilian institutions into the Syrian government, but ongoing disputes have stalled this progress.
The latest ceasefire negotiation involved major international players, including the US, who expressed concern over the potential Turkish involvement amid escalating tensions. Turkey regards the Kurdish militia dominant within the SDF as a terrorist group.
The US ambassador to Turkey urged all parties to exercise restraint and return to dialogue following the ceasefire announcement, indicating ongoing support for Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in stabilizing the nation.
