The city of Aleppo has become the stage for a dramatic shift, as the last fighters from the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have withdrawn, marking the end of a chapter marked by intense clashes.
According to officials, the withdrawal followed a ceasefire agreement, allowing for the evacuation of fighters after days of deadly conflict. Aleppo Governor Azzam al-Gharib confirmed that the city was now "empty of SDF fighters." The Syrian army coordinated their departure via buses overnight.
But here's where it gets controversial...
The SDF, under the leadership of commander Mazloum Abdi (also known as Mazloum Kobani), reached an understanding through international mediation for a ceasefire, ensuring the safe evacuation of civilians and fighters. He expressed the group's call for mediators to uphold their promises and facilitate the safe return of displaced individuals to their homes.
This development occurred after the Syrian army gained control of the Kurdish-majority neighborhood of Sheikh Maqsoud, following clashes that erupted when talks to integrate the SDF into the national army failed. The fighting resulted in at least 30 fatalities and displaced over 150,000 people.
Al Jazeera's Ayman Oghanna, reporting from Damascus, highlighted the role of the United States in brokering the agreement between the SDF and the government, given its unique position of having good relations with both parties. The US has been working with the Kurdish-led force against ISIL (ISIS) for over a decade.
And this is the part most people miss...
The fighting in Aleppo began due to tensions over the failure to implement a March 2025 agreement to reintegrate the Kurdish forces into state institutions. The SDF refused to leave areas under its control since the early days of the Syrian civil war, which began in 2011.
Oghanna noted that despite the end of fighting in Aleppo, the underlying issues remain. The greatest threat to national stability and unity is the question of whether the SDF will join Damascus and come under its control.
The SDF, with an estimated 50,000 to 90,000 fighters, controls almost a quarter of Syria's territory, primarily in the northeast. The recent events in Aleppo make the SDF integration "look far less likely." The SDF's reluctance to cede control of the country's northeast and their desire for autonomy in governance are also contributing factors.
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