Aleppo: The Syrian Army has issued a warning on Thursday, stating its intention to target sites of the YPG/SDF, which it claims are obstructing the movement of civilians from eastern Aleppo. The warning comes amidst efforts to allow safe passage through a humanitarian corridor near Deir Hafir, east of Aleppo city.
According to Anadolu Agency, the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported that the army's Operations Command has accused groups affiliated with the YPG, in alliance with the SDF, of blocking civilians from using the designated humanitarian route. In response, the army has decided to extend the opening of the corridor for an additional day, with operating hours from 9 am to 5 pm local time on Friday, to facilitate the safe exit of civilians.
The Syrian Army has cautioned that any SDF sites found obstructing civilian movement will be targeted in what it describes as 'an appropriate manner.' It emphasized that all necessary field preparations have been undertaken to ensure the security of the area, and it also advised civilians to avoid any locations associated with the SDF.
Reports from civilians who have fled the region, as relayed by Anadolu, indicate that the SDF is preventing tens of thousands from leaving Deir Hafir, allegedly using them as human shields. Additionally, Alikhbariah TV has reported that some civilians have started to leave Deir Hafir via alternative routes after being prevented by SDF forces from crossing through the designated Hamimeh crossing.
These developments follow the Syrian Army's detection of more armed groups affiliated with the SDF and former regime elements in the vicinity of Maskanah and Deir Hafir, prompting an increased military presence in the region. The SDF has been accused of shelling residential neighborhoods, civilian facilities, and Syrian Army positions in Aleppo, resulting in 24 deaths, nearly 130 injuries, and the displacement of approximately 165,000 residents from the Ashrafieh and Sheikh Maqsoud districts, according to official figures.
In March 2025, an agreement was announced by the Syrian presidency for the integration of the SDF into state institutions, affirming territorial unity and rejecting division attempts. A subsequent agreement in April 2025 addressed the administrative status of the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh neighborhoods, banning armed manifestations and restricting weapons to internal security forces, while requiring SDF military forces to withdraw to areas east of the Euphrates in northeastern Syria. However, authorities have stated that the SDF has not adhered to these agreements.
The Syrian government has been intensifying its efforts to restore nationwide security following the ousting of the Bashar al-Assad regime in December 2024, after his 24-year tenure.