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The last group of YPG, which forms the backbone of the SDF as a Syrian extension of the PKK, led by SDF terrorist organization members and has begun evacuation from Aleppo, marking the completion of Syrian Army operations to retake full control of the northern city following the escalating violence.
According to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), the evacuation of the final SDF members from Aleppo's Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood has commenced. After accepting the evacuation terms, the last terrorist group members were placed in a convoy consisting of six buses and seven ambulances that departed from an evacuation point.
The convoy proceeded from the evacuation point toward Tabqa district on the western bank of the Euphrates River, an area under SDF occupation. Another group of SDF members stationed at Yassin Hospital in Sheikh Maqsoud was later evacuated to the same area in the evening hours.
"The Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh neighborhoods have now been cleared of SDF elements and are under the control of the Syrian Army. The groups departing from Sheikh Maqsoud were the last SDF militants in Aleppo, according to Syria's state television, citing security sources.
Before their evacuation, the terrorist group YPG-led SDF carried out a massive offensive against Aleppo. Information Minister Hamza al-Mustafa announced that the SDF had conducted 350 attacks on neighborhoods in the past week alone.
"The terrorist group SDF carried out 350 attacks on neighborhoods in the northern city of Aleppo over the past week," al-Mustafa stated at a press conference in Aleppo.
These attacks occurred following the latest round of negotiations between the SDF and the Syrian government, approximately one week prior, according to the information minister.
The scale of the assault demonstrated the terrorist organization's determination to maintain control of territory in Aleppo despite agreeing to negotiations with the Damascus authorities.
The SDF attacks since Tuesday resulted in at least 23 civilian deaths and 104 injuries, according to Mounir al-Mohammad, media director at Aleppo's Health Directorate.
"At least 23 civilians were killed and 104 others injured in attacks by the SDF terrorist organization on residential neighborhoods," al-Mohammad told SANA.
The deceased included a child and four women. Among the fatalities was a dentistry student killed by sniper fire.
"The dead included a child and four women. One of the fatalities was a dentistry student killed by sniper fire," the health official stated.
The majority of the injured were women and children, with many cases in critical condition, facing imminent risk of death, al-Mohammad noted.
"Most of the injured were women and children, with many cases in critical condition and at risk of dying at any moment," al-Mohammad said.
The attacks triggered the displacement of approximately 165,000 residents from the Ashrafieh and Sheikh Maqsoud districts, creating a major humanitarian crisis in the city.
Before evacuation, the SDF committed grave violations of international and humanitarian law across Aleppo, according to a source at Syria's Interior Ministry.
The violations included indiscriminate shelling of residential neighborhoods that terrorized civilians and caused the documented casualties. The terrorist organization also planted landmines in populated civilian areas and neighborhoods, creating ongoing threats even after fighters withdrew from certain districts.
"The group planted landmines in populated civilian areas and neighborhoods, posing a continued threat to civilians even after SDF fighters withdrew from some districts," the Interior Ministry source stated.
The SDF systematically used civilians as human shields, positioning military equipment and weapons platforms between residential homes. SDF members dug tunnels beneath houses and public service facilities, converting them into weapons and ammunition depots.
"SDF elements used civilians as human shields, positioning artillery, rocket launchers, and drone platforms between residential homes. SDF members dug tunnels beneath houses and public service facilities, using them as depots to store weapons and ammunition," the source said.
Among the documented war crimes was the use of suicide attackers who detonated themselves—tactics the Interior Ministry noted were reminiscent of methods employed by the Daesh terrorist group.
"The use of suicide attackers who detonated themselves recalls methods used by the Daesh terrorist group. These practices amount to war crimes under international and humanitarian law," the Interior Ministry source stated.
Information Minister al-Mustafa characterized the Syrian Army's operation as measured and professional.
"The Syrian Army's operation in the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh neighborhoods was professional and precise, aimed at protecting civilians and ensuring their safety," the minister said.
Al-Mustafa emphasized that the Syrian state had consistently preferred "political and negotiated solutions" to resolve disputes, but the SDF had repeatedly violated agreements.
"The Syrian state prefers political and negotiated solutions to resolve disputes. However, the SDF has failed to abide by agreements reached with the government," al-Mustafa stated.
He underscored that Syria is constructing a state based on citizenship principles, with sovereignty and independence that are "not subject to negotiation."
"Syria is working to build a state based on citizenship. The country's sovereignty and independence are not subject to negotiation," the minister emphasized.
The SDF initially denied that its fighters were leaving Aleppo, attempting to characterize the bus transfers as forced displacement of civilians rather than a military evacuation. However, Syrian authorities confirmed the departure of the last SDF members from the city through official channels.
Syria's state television, citing security sources, definitively reported that the groups evacuated from Sheikh Maqsoud represented the final SDF militants remaining in Aleppo.
The town of Tabqa, the destination for the evacuated militants, is located on the western bank of the Euphrates River in an area under SDF control in northeastern Syria.
The evacuation of the last YPG/SDF members comes months after a March 10 agreement in which the Syrian presidency announced the signing of an agreement for the SDF's integration into state institutions, reaffirming the country's territorial unity and rejecting any attempts at division.
However, authorities stated that in the months since the agreement, the SDF has not shown any efforts to meet its terms. Instead of integrating into state structures, the organization escalated military operations, ultimately leading to their expulsion from Aleppo.
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