Daijiworld Media Network - Damascus

Damascus, Jan 11: The last remaining fighters of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have withdrawn from Aleppo following a ceasefire agreement, city governor Azzam al-Gharib said on Sunday, bringing an end to days of deadly clashes.

Speaking to Al Jazeera, al-Gharib said Aleppo had become “empty of SDF fighters” after government forces coordinated their overnight evacuation on buses from the city.

Confirming the development, SDF commander Mazloum Abdi said an understanding had been reached through international mediation to implement a ceasefire and ensure the safe evacuation of civilians and fighters.

“We have reached an understanding that leads to a ceasefire and securing the evacuation of the dead, the wounded, the stranded civilians and the fighters from the Ashrafiyeh and Sheikh Maqsoud neighbourhoods to northern and eastern Syria,” Abdi said in a post on X.

He also urged mediators to ensure that commitments are honoured. “We call on the mediators to adhere to their promises to stop the violations and work towards a safe return for the displaced to their homes,” he added.

The ceasefire followed intense clashes after talks to integrate the SDF into the national Syrian army collapsed. The Syrian army subsequently took control of the Kurdish-majority Sheikh Maqsoud neighbourhood, paving the way for the evacuation agreement.