Syrian Army Assumes Full Control of Aleppo After Ceasefire Deal

The Syrian government has consolidated its control over the entire city of Aleppo following a ceasefire agreement and the subsequent withdrawal of Kurdish-led forces. This development marks a significant shift in the military landscape of northern Syria, effectively ending years of divided control within the country's largest pre-war city.

Under the terms of a deal announced last Sunday, fighters from the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have completely withdrawn from the strategic neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh [47086][47090]. Their departure, carried out via buses to areas in northeastern Syria, allows the Syrian army to secure districts that had remained outside its authority since the government recaptured Aleppo from rebels in 2016 [47040][47210].

The withdrawal concludes a week of intense and deadly clashes that broke the city's fragile calm. The fighting, which involved shelling and drone strikes, resulted in at least 23 fatalities and forced an estimated 140,000 residents to flee their homes [47881][45172][45816]. The violence also led to a temporary halt in flights at Aleppo's airport and the closure of schools and businesses [45172].

A series of ceasefires preceded the final agreement. Syrian authorities first declared a truce on Friday in an attempt to halt the bloodshed, which was described as the worst violence in the region in over a year [45441][45496]. That initial pause paved the way for the broader deal finalized over the weekend, which included provisions for the safe passage of SDF fighters and their light weapons [45816].

The SDF stated that it agreed to withdraw to avoid further conflict and protect civilians [47040]. With the completion of the pullout, the Syrian army now exercises full military authority over all of Aleppo, a key objective for President Bashar al-Assad's government as it seeks to re-establish control across the nation [47086][45282]. While the immediate fighting has ceased, the long-term impact on the city's displaced residents and the tense relationship between Damascus and the Kurdish-led administration remains unclear [47427][44512].