Kurdish Fighters Withdraw from Aleppo as Syrian Government Reclaims Control Under New Agreement

Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have officially withdrawn from the northern Aleppo neighborhoods of Sheikh Maksoud and Achrafieh. The move comes under a formal agreement with Syria’s central government, aiming to restore state authority and promote national unity after years of division.

The withdrawal marks the first stage of implementation of a broader political deal between Syria’s interim administration and the Kurdish-led authority governing northeastern Syria. Government security forces have been deployed along key roads to ensure a safe transition for the SDF as they return to their strongholds east of the Euphrates River.

According to official sources, the arrangement provides the Kurdish population with key constitutional rights for the first time in decades. These include the legal use of the Kurdish language, the right to citizenship for stateless Kurds, and safe return for thousands of displaced families.

The SDF maintained control of Sheikh Maksoud and Achrafieh for nearly a decade, even after the fall of Aleppo under former President Bashar al-Assad in 2016. The latest move signifies a new phase of integration, as discussions continue about incorporating SDF fighters into Syria’s national military.

The government has confirmed that the temporary handover follows a successful prisoner exchange conducted earlier this week, reflecting growing confidence between both parties.