The Syrian military announced a unilateral suspension of combat operations in Aleppo’s contested Sheikh Maqsud district on Saturday, according to an official statement carried by state media. The ceasefire declaration, which took effect at 3:00 PM local time (1200 GMT), follows several days of intense clashes between government forces and Kurdish fighters in the strategically significant neighborhood.
In a strategic repositioning move, the military statement indicated that Kurdish combat units would be systematically transferred to the Kurdish-administered city of Tabaqa in northeastern Syria. This relocation suggests a potential de-escalation agreement between the conflicting parties, though neither side disclosed the precise terms or mediators involved in the arrangement.
Despite the announced cessation of hostilities, an AFP correspondent stationed near Sheikh Maqsud reported intermittent exchanges of gunfire emanating from the neighborhood shortly after the official announcement. These sporadic auditory indications of continued tension highlight the fragile nature of the ceasefire implementation in the complex Syrian conflict landscape.
The development marks a significant tactical shift in Aleppo, a city that has witnessed some of the most destructive urban warfare throughout Syria’s prolonged civil conflict. Sheikh Maqsud’s strategic elevation has made it a militarily valuable position for controlling approaches to the city, contributing to its contested status throughout various phases of the conflict.
Military analysts observe that this ceasefire and transfer agreement could represent a localized confidence-building measure between the Syrian government and Kurdish forces, who have maintained an uneasy relationship throughout the conflict, occasionally cooperating against common adversaries while maintaining separate governance objectives.