Aleppo: The terrorist group YPG/SDF carried out 360 attacks on neighborhoods in the northern city of Aleppo over the past week, a top Syrian official said Saturday. YPG/SDF terrorists conducted the attacks in Aleppo since the latest round of negotiations between the group and the Syrian government about a week ago, Information Minister Hamza al-Mustafa told a press conference in Aleppo alongside Social Affairs and Labor Minister Hind Kabawat and attended by Anadolu.
According to Anadolu Agency, Minister al-Mustafa highlighted that the Syrian Army's operations in the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh neighborhoods were aimed at protecting civilians and ensuring their safety. He emphasized the Syrian state's preference for 'political and negotiated solutions' to resolve disputes, while accusing the SDF of not adhering to agreements made with the government. Al-Mustafa reiterated Syria's commitment to building a state based on citizenship and affirmed the country's sovereignty and independence.
Social Affairs and Labor Minister Hind Kabawat stated the government's efforts to support displaced civilians in Aleppo's shelters, collaborating with local and civil society organizations. She urged Syrians to unite and reject hate speech, recognizing Syria's Kurdish community as an integral part of the nation. Aleppo Governor Azzam al-Gharib reported the gradual return to normalcy in the Ashrafieh and Bani Zaid neighborhoods, with similar progress expected in Sheikh Maqsoud. He noted that following security operations, public service institutions began coordinating with the army to restore essential services.
A source at Syria's Interior Ministry told Al-Ikhbariya TV that the SDF committed violations of international and humanitarian law in Aleppo, including indiscriminate shelling and planting landmines in civilian areas. The source accused the SDF of using civilians as human shields and resorting to tactics reminiscent of the ISIS terrorist group. The Interior Ministry condemned these practices as war crimes under international and humanitarian law.
The Syrian Army's Operations Command announced a halt to military operations in Sheikh Maqsoud after an escalation with the YPG/SDF group. Since Tuesday, SDF attacks have resulted in nine fatalities and 55 injuries, displacing approximately 165,000 residents from Ashrafieh and Sheikh Maqsoud. Despite an agreement signed in March for the SDF's integration into state institutions, authorities claim the group has not fulfilled its obligations. The government continues to intensify security efforts across the country following the ouster of the Assad regime in December 2024.