Damascus, Syria – Reuters quoted the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) denying a ceasefire in the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood of Aleppo, northern Syria. This occurs amid conflicting reports about the situation on the ground. The SDF stated that the Damascus government’s announcement of a cessation of hostilities did not reflect the reality on the ground.
The SDF’s denial comes after the Syrian Army Operations Authority announced a halt to all military operations inside the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood. This was effective from 3:00 PM local time.
This is a step that Damascus said aims to calm the situation and protect civilians. It also aims to pave the way for subsequent security and administrative measures within the area.
The priority is the safety of the population
In the same vein, the Syrian Minister of Information, in previous statements, emphasized the necessity of protecting civilians during military operations. He stressed that safeguarding the population and infrastructure is a priority in any field operations within cities.
The head of internal security in Aleppo also announced that government forces had taken control of the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood. This indicates that the situation was now under security control.
Pursuing armed groups
The Syrian army had previously announced the start of a sweep operation inside the neighborhood after imposing a curfew. The operation aimed at pursuing what it described as armed groups and maintaining security. There were official assurances of efforts to restore stability and prevent renewed clashes.
In contrast, the SDF insists that the statements issued by Damascus do not reflect reality. They consider that the announcement of a ceasefire is within the framework of a media war, not real field understandings.
This discrepancy in statements reflects a state of ongoing tension in northern Syria, particularly in the city of Aleppo. Here, military and political calculations intersect, while civilians remain the most affected. They suffer from the repercussions of the escalation and the exchange of accusations between the conflicting parties.
