Syrian Army declares ceasefire in Aleppo’s Sheikh Maqsoud after clashes

The Syrian Army's Operations Command announced Saturday a comprehensive ceasefire in Aleppo's Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood, effective from 3:00 p.m. local time. The move follows several days of intense clashes with YPG/SDF forces, which the government designates as a terrorist organization. According to a statement carried by the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), the truce aims to de-escalate the situation and restore state authority in the area.

Terms of the Ceasefire Agreement

The agreement outlines specific measures for implementation. SDF militants entrenched within Yassin Hospital are to be transferred to the city of Tabqah, with their weapons withdrawn concurrently. Furthermore, the Syrian Army will begin the process of handing over all health and government facilities within the neighborhood to official state institutions and will gradually withdraw its forces from the streets of Sheikh Maqsoud.

Background of the Conflict

The ceasefire follows a period of significant violence that displaced thousands of residents from the Ashrafieh and Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhoods. The Syrian Army had previously accused the SDF of using civilians as human shields and launched a military operation in response to attacks on residential areas and army positions. This new truce represents a potential turning point in enforcing the March 2025 integration agreement, which called for the SDF's incorporation into state structures—a process that had stalled until now.

Strategic Implications

The arrangement, if successfully implemented, would mark a strategic consolidation of government control in a key urban area of Aleppo. The transfer of militants to Tabqah and the handover of critical infrastructure signal a negotiated resolution to the immediate standoff. It remains a critical test for the broader integration framework between Damascus and the SDF, which has been a point of contention and sporadic violence since the agreement was signed.