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U.S. Ambassador to Ankara and Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack said the United States is working to extend a temporary ceasefire in Syria’s Aleppo province, as clashes continue between Syrian government forces and the SDF in parts of the city.
In a statement shared on social media, Barrack said a ceasefire declared overnight between 3 a.m. and 9 a.m. in Aleppo’s Ashrafieh and Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhoods was welcomed by Washington.
He thanked all sides for showing restraint and goodwill that enabled the temporary truce.
Barrack said the United States hopes sustained cooperation could lead to a more durable calm and deeper dialogue over the weekend.
He described the ceasefire as a vital step toward steering Syria’s various communities and neighboring countries onto a shared path toward security, inclusivity and lasting peace.
Acknowledging that challenges remain, Barrack said the shared objective should be cooperation rather than continued conflict.
He added that intensive efforts are underway to extend the ceasefire beyond the initial deadline of 9 a.m.
The Syrian Defense Ministry had earlier announced the temporary truce, granting the SDF a window between 3 and 9 a.m. to withdraw from the Ashrafieh and Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhoods.
The ceasefire efforts come amid escalating violence in Aleppo.
Since Jan. 6, the SDF has carried out attacks on multiple areas of the city, prompting the Syrian government to demand that the group halt operations and comply with prior agreements.
After attacks continued, Syrian army units launched targeted operations against SDF positions in Ashrafieh and Sheikh Maqsoud.
According to Syrian authorities and local officials, government forces have taken control of most of Ashrafieh, while clashes persist in parts of that neighborhood and along the Sheikh Maqsoud line.
Aleppo Governor Azzam Gharib said large numbers of SDF members had defected or fled their positions, and that internal security forces were preparing to fully deploy to stabilize the area and enable the return of displaced civilians.
Local authorities reported that SDF attacks since early January have killed nine people and wounded 55 others, most of them civilians.
The Aleppo Central Emergency Committee said about 142,000 people have been displaced, with temporary shelters established in Aleppo, Azaz and Afrin.
Syrian authorities also imposed a full curfew in several northern Aleppo neighborhoods, including Ashrafieh, Sheikh Maqsoud, Bani Zeid, Al-Surian, Al-Hulluk and Al-Midan, until further notice.
Separately, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar described Syria’s planned military operation against the SDF in Aleppo as “dangerous,” saying the international community owed the group gratitude for its role in fighting Daesh.
Barrack’s comments came as diplomatic efforts continue alongside military developments, with the U.S. envoy emphasizing that extending the ceasefire could open the door to broader dialogue and a more lasting reduction in violence in Aleppo.
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