Published on January 17, 2026
The Syrian army is said to be securing areas under the control of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Aleppo governorate.
Government forces on Saturday Entered Der HaferSince dawn, following the SDF’s announcement of a planned withdrawal from their strongholds, approximately 50km (30 miles) east of Aleppo city.
SDF Commander Majlum Abdi (also known as Majlum Kobani) announced on Friday via X that the group will withdraw from the eastern lines of communication to Aleppo at 7 am local time (04:00 GMT) on Saturday and relocate its forces to the east of the Euphrates River in response to requests from allies and mediators.
Syria’s Ministry of Defense supported the SDF’s decision to withdraw, saying it would monitor the full implementation, including the removal of fighters and equipment, before deploying Syrian military forces to establish state authority in the vacated territories.
Earlier, Syrian military officials reported that they had launched shelling operations against militia bases affiliated with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and former ruling elements affiliated with the SDF in Deir Hafar.
According to Syrian officials and diplomatic sources, the United States has encouraged both sides to avoid conflict and resume negotiations, aiming to establish a lasting peace in Syria to promote broader stability in the Middle East and prevent the resurgence of ISIL (ISIS).
Both sides have engaged in extensive talks over the past year, working toward integrating Kurdish-administered military and civilian institutions into Syrian state structures by the end of 2025, with both repeatedly stressing their preference for a diplomatic solution.