Syrian Army Deploys Troops to Rural Aleppo to Prevent SDF Regrouping Efforts

The ongoing conflict in Aleppo highlights the complex dynamics of military presence and community resilience in Syria. As Syrian forces reinforce their positions in eastern Aleppo amidst renewed hostilities, the local population’s attempts to recover from the violence reflect a broader struggle for stability and peace in the region. This situation underscores the necessity of continued dialogue and collaboration among all stakeholders to find a lasting resolution.

The Syrian army has recently dispatched reinforcements to rural eastern Aleppo following reports of increased activity by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the area. This military mobilization comes in the wake of several days of intense conflict within the city and the subsequent withdrawal of the SDF. State-run news agency SANA circulated images of Syrian troops advancing toward the lines of deployment east of Aleppo.

According to SANA, the Syrian Army Operations Authority reported observing an influx of additional armed groups associated with the SDF organization near Maskana and Deir Hafer in eastern Aleppo countryside. The agency noted that these reinforcements were believed to include fighters from the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which has been transitioning forces from Turkiye to northern Iraq as part of an ongoing peace accord aimed at ending a prolonged armed conflict with significant historical ramifications.

In response to the allegations made by the Syrian Ministry of Defence, the SDF firmly denied any claims regarding the deployment of military forces to the Deir Hafer front. The organization maintained that there had been no notable troop movements and clarified that the presence in the area was limited to civilians who were assisting injured individuals from Aleppo’s Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh neighborhoods.

In the aftermath of the recent battles, Syrian government forces have initiated security sweeps across the city of Aleppo. Notably, as some residents displaced by the recent fighting began returning to their neighborhoods, army units were working diligently to clear the areas of explosive remnants and illicit weaponry. Residents of Ashrafieh, the first neighborhood to fall back under government control, have started returning to evaluate the damage, observing extensive destruction marked by debris and shattered glass.

Reporters have highlighted that while many residents are hopeful and eager to rebuild, the situation varies across neighborhoods. For example, in Sheikh Maqsoud, government forces continue their search for hidden explosives, further complicating the return process. Furthermore, Syrian authorities are actively seeking information on opposition prisoners previously detained by the SDF during the era of deposed leader Bashar al-Assad, who was overthrown following a historic uprising in December 2024.

Amid this turbulent backdrop, U.S. envoy Tom Barrack engaged in discussions with current President Ahmed al-Sharaa, advocating for a “return to dialogue” to promote stability and facilitate the integration agreement. The withdrawal of SDF forces from various positions within Aleppo marks a significant turn in the city’s control dynamics, affecting both military and civilian aspects of life.

In a recent update from Syrian health authorities, it was reported that at least 24 civilians have succumbed to injuries and 129 have been wounded due to SDF-led attacks in the past week. Meanwhile, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a U.K.-based monitoring group, documented a broader casualty count, noting 45 civilian deaths alongside 60 soldiers and combatants from both factions.

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