The Syrian army has announced that it has taken control of dozens of towns and villages in eastern Aleppo governorate after the withdrawal of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), marking a significant shift in territorial control amid ongoing political and military tensions in northern Syria.
According to military statements broadcast on Syrian state television, government forces have seized 34 towns and villages east of Aleppo since early Saturday, including the strategically important towns of Deir Hafer and Maskana, as well as a nearby military airport.
Army Advances Follow SDF Withdrawal Agreement
The advance comes days after Syrian government forces pushed Kurdish fighters out of Aleppo city following deadly clashes. The army subsequently deployed reinforcements to areas east of the city, instructing the SDF to evacuate territory stretching from Deir Hafer to the Euphrates River, approximately 30 kilometres (18 miles) further east.
The withdrawal was part of an agreement linked to broader negotiations over the disarmament and integration of the Kurdish-led forces into the Syrian state, an issue that has remained deeply contentious.
While Damascus claims the SDF complied with the withdrawal, the Syrian army accused Kurdish fighters of violating the agreement by attacking an army patrol near Maskana, allegedly killing two Syrian soldiers.
The military also said it facilitated the departure of more than 200 SDF fighters, along with their weapons, from the region.
SDF Accuses Damascus of Agreement Breach
The SDF, however, disputed the army’s account, accusing government forces of entering Deir Hafer and Maskana before Kurdish fighters had fully withdrawn, creating what it described as a “highly dangerous situation”.
The group reported clashes during the handover process, underscoring the fragility of the agreement and lingering mistrust between the two sides.
On Friday night, Syrian forces carried out artillery strikes on what they described as Kurdish positions in Deir Hafer. During the bombardment, the SDF said the town was under heavy shelling.
Civilians Return as Syrian Forces Establish Control
Reporting from Deir Hafer, Al Jazeera correspondent Zein Basravi said civilians were already beginning to return to the town following the Syrian army’s entry.
“We have seen families travelling in the backs of pick-up trucks, braving cold and rainy weather,” Basravi said. “They are arriving at former SDF roadblocks and checkpoints made of mud walls.”
Bulldozers were seen clearing barricades as Syrian troops conducted security checks and attempted to consolidate control over the area.
Basravi added that the atmosphere among returning residents was largely celebratory. “People here are elated that the town is now under Syrian military control,” he said.
Broader Effort to Reassert State Authority
The developments reflect the Syrian government’s broader push to reassert authority across the country following the removal of longtime leader Bashar al-Assad in December 2024.
The SDF continues to control large parts of northern and northeastern Syria, including oil-rich territories it captured during the civil war and the fight against the ISIL (ISIS) group. For years, the SDF served as the main regional ally of the United States in the campaign against ISIL.
However, progress on implementing a March agreement to integrate the Kurdish political administration and armed forces into the Syrian state has stalled. Key disagreements remain, particularly over Kurdish demands for decentralised governance.
Kurdish Leader Confirms Redeployment East of Euphrates
SDF commander Mazloum Abdi, also known as Mazloum Kobani, said on Saturday that Kurdish forces had begun withdrawing toward positions east of the Euphrates River.
He said the move followed appeals from “friendly countries and mediators” seeking to prevent further bloodshed.
The Syrian defence ministry welcomed the announcement, saying government troops would deploy only after a complete SDF withdrawal.
Syrian authorities reported that at least 4,000 civilians had fled Deir Hafer in recent days after the army urged residents to evacuate ahead of the advance.
Kurdish Rights Decree Signals Political Shift
The military advance came just one day after Syria’s new president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, issued a landmark decree recognising Kurdish as a national language and granting long-denied rights to the Kurdish minority.
The decree marked the first formal recognition of Kurdish rights since Syria gained independence in 1946, declaring Kurds an “essential and integral part” of the country.
Under the decree:
- Kurdish may be taught in public schools in areas with large Kurdish populations
- All Kurds are granted Syrian nationality
- Citizenship is restored to Kurds stripped of nationality under a controversial 1962 census
While welcomed as a symbolic breakthrough, Kurdish authorities said the move fell short of their aspirations.
Kurdish Administration Calls for Constitutional Guarantees
The Kurdish administration in northern and northeastern Syria described the decree as “a first step”, but stressed that lasting rights require constitutional protections, not temporary measures.
“Rights are not protected by decrees alone,” the administration said, “but through permanent constitutions that reflect the will of all components of Syrian society.”
Millions of Kurds live across Syria, Iraq, Iran and Türkiye, with an estimated one to 1.5 million Kurds residing in SDF-controlled areas of northeastern Syria.
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