The Syrian army announced it had taken full control of Deir Hafer, a strategic city in Aleppo governorate, after the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) withdrew early Saturday morning. The move comes amid efforts to reintegrate SDF-held areas into the Syrian state following a stalled agreement from March 2025.

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Syrian Forces Enter Deir Hafer

Syrian army units entered Deir Hafer, located approximately 50 kilometers east of Aleppo, shortly after the SDF confirmed it would begin pulling out its fighters. State media reported that the army is now working to clear mines and other remnants of conflict and has begun advancing toward the nearby town of Maskana.

The operation follows a Syrian army offensive launched on Friday, targeting SDF positions that were allegedly used as “launching points for terrorist operations toward Aleppo and its eastern countryside.”

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SDF Response and Withdrawal

SDF leader Mazloum Abdi (also known as Mazloum Kobani) announced the pullback on social media, citing mediation by “friendly countries” and a commitment to the March 10th agreement aimed at integrating SDF-held areas into Syrian government structures.

Abdi stated:
“Based on calls from friendly countries and mediators, we have decided to withdraw our forces tomorrow morning at 7am [04:00 GMT] east of Aleppo, toward redeployment in areas east of the Euphrates.”

The Syrian army emphasized that it would not target withdrawing SDF fighters, signaling an effort to avoid further escalation.

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Reporting from the Ground

Al Jazeera correspondent Zein Basravi, reporting from Zaalanah east of Aleppo, said Syrian forces had been building up around Deir Hafer for several days before entering the city.

Basravi described the developments as a “best-case scenario”:
“A short, sharp military operation overnight, followed by securing the withdrawal agreement and then clearing the area.”

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Humanitarian Impact

The recent clashes prompted a mass displacement of civilians. Syrian authorities reported that more than 150,000 people fled two SDF-held pockets in Aleppo, while at least 4,000 residents left Deir Hafer on Friday after the army issued evacuation deadlines.

According to Syria’s Ministry of Health, the clashes in Aleppo this month resulted in at least 23 deaths, highlighting ongoing tensions in a region heavily affected by Syria’s civil war since 2011.

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Reintegration and Kurdish Rights

The SDF withdrawal aligns with delayed efforts to integrate Kurdish-led regions into the Syrian state. Last year’s agreement was intended to merge SDF forces with the Syrian Ministry of Defence by the end of 2025, but implementation was stalled, contributing to clashes in Aleppo.

In a notable gesture of goodwill, President Ahmed al-Sharaa issued a decree formally recognizing Kurdish as a national language, declaring the Kurdish minority “an essential and integral part of Syria.”

The decree also:

• Makes Nowruz, the Kurdish new year, an official holiday.
• Grants Syrian nationality to Kurds previously stripped of it under the controversial 1962 census, which affected approximately 20% of the population.
• Urges Kurdish citizens to “actively participate in building this nation” while guaranteeing their rights.

These measures mark the first formal recognition of Kurdish rights in Syria since independence in 1946, aiming to promote national unity and minority inclusion.

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Key Takeaways

• The Syrian army has full control of Deir Hafer following the withdrawal of SDF forces.
• The SDF plans to redeploy east of the Euphrates, respecting the March 10th reintegration agreement.
• Civilian displacement has been significant, with tens of thousands fleeing Aleppo governorate.
• President al-Sharaa formally recognized Kurdish rights, including language, nationality, and holidays, as part of efforts to stabilize Syria post-Assad.
• The operation represents a short, targeted military engagement with minimal direct confrontation during the SDF withdrawal.