Newsletters
The Syrian Army declared the area west of the Euphrates River, occupied by the terrorist organization YPG-led SDF, a military zone and demanded that all armed elements withdraw east of the river.
In a written statement to local media, the army said the YPG/SDF, PKK terrorists, and remnants of the former regime continue to gather in the occupied areas west of the Euphrates. The occupied regions are being used to launch kamikaze unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) attacking Aleppo, the statement said.
"The Syrian Army will take all necessary measures to prevent armed groups gathered in this area from using it as a base for criminal activities," the statement said.
The army released a map showing the designated military zones, including areas around Meskene and Deir Hafir, and urged civilians to stay away from terror group positions.
Since last week, the SDF has shelled residential neighborhoods, civilian facilities, and Syrian Army positions in Aleppo, killing 24 people, wounding nearly 130, and displacing about 165,000 residents from Ashrafieh and Sheikh Maqsoud districts, according to official figures.
The Syrian Army launched operations in Aleppo on Jan. 7 against the YPG/SDF-occupied neighborhoods following the escalating attacks.
The operations resulted in the liberation of the Ashrafieh, Sheikh Maqsoud, and Bani Zeyd neighborhoods from the terrorist group's control.
In March 2025, the Syrian presidency announced an agreement for the SDF's integration into state institutions, reaffirming the country's territorial unity and rejecting any attempts at division.
In April 2025, Syrian authorities signed an agreement with the SDF concerning the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh neighborhoods. Both districts would be considered administrative parts of Aleppo while respecting their local particularities.
The agreement included provisions banning armed manifestations, restricting weapons to internal security forces, and requiring SDF military forces to withdraw east of the Euphrates River in northeastern Syria.
Authorities said the SDF has shown no effort to meet the agreement terms in the months since signing.
The Syrian government has intensified security efforts across the country since the ouster of the Bashar al-Assad regime in December 2024, after 24 years in power.
The Syrian Army Operations Command issued the warning through the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), describing the YPG/SDF-occupied area as a launch point for Iranian suicide drones targeting Aleppo.
The army urged civilians to stay away from SDF positions and called on all armed groups to withdraw east of the Euphrates River, warning it would take necessary measures to prevent the area's use as an attack base.
Several locations in the area have been declared closed military zones effective immediately.
Set as preferred source
1 min read
1 min read
