Syrian Army Deploys Troops in Rural Aleppo to Counter SDF Activity

Syrian Government Forces Deploy Reinforcements to Eastern Aleppo Countryside

The Syrian army has deployed reinforcements to rural eastern Aleppo, following the arrival of more Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) forces in the area. The deployment comes after days of deadly battles within the city and the departure of the SDF.

According to official news agency SANA, Syrian army troops were seen heading towards the deployment line east of Aleppo on Monday. SANA quoted the Syrian Army Operations Authority as stating that more armed groups had arrived at the deployment points of the SDF organisation in the eastern Aleppo countryside near Maskana and Deir Hafer.

The SDF denied accusations from the Syrian Ministry of Defence that it had deployed military forces to the Deir Hafer front in the eastern Aleppo countryside. The group stated there were no unusual movements or preparations in the area, citing limited gatherings of civilians from northern and eastern Syria to receive wounded fighters from the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh neighbourhoods.

Meanwhile, Syrian government forces were conducting security sweeps in the city of Aleppo on Monday. Residents who had been displaced by fighting began returning to their areas, with army forces removing explosive devices and weapons. In the Ashrafieh neighbourhood, which was one of the first to fall to the Syrian army, residents reported finding shrapnel and broken glass littering the streets.

The United States envoy Tom Barrack met with President Ahmed al-Sharaa on Saturday, calling for a “return to dialogue” in accordance with the integration agreement. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that at least 24 civilians were killed and 129 wounded in SDF attacks since last Tuesday.

Source: Al Jazeera