Agreement to Withdraw Kurdish Fighters from Aleppo… And This is the Exchange

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has revealed a “preliminary agreement” between the new Syrian government in Damascus and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to integrate Kurdish fighters (Asayish) in the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh neighborhoods of Aleppo into the “Public Security Forces,” assigning them the responsibility of maintaining security in the Kurdish-majority area. These areas will remain under the administration of the “Autonomous Administration” in eastern Syria.

According to published information, the agreement includes a large-scale prisoner exchange. The newly formed Syrian army-affiliated armed factions will release 170 SDF fighters in exchange for the SDF releasing 400 militants from various factions who were previously captured during battles. The agreement, according to the Observatory, has U.S. support.

A Profile News correspondent in Aleppo reported that, as of today, Kurdish fighters still control the neighborhoods of Ashrafieh and Sheikh Maqsoud, as well as parts of Maysaloun and Bustan al-Basha and surrounding areas, which they seized following the fall of the Syrian regime. These areas form a front line against the factions affiliated with the Ministry of Defense. Clashes occasionally occur along these front lines.