In a significant development within the long-running Syrian conflict, Kurdish-led forces have completed a withdrawal from several districts in the northern city of Aleppo. This evacuation comes after several days of intense and violent clashes with factions backed by Turkey.
The Evacuation Operation and Its Immediate Context
The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a coalition spearheaded by the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), pulled out from the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh neighbourhoods. These areas had been under their control for years. The decision to evacuate followed a severe escalation in hostilities that began on Friday, November 24, 2023.
According to reports from the Rojava Information Center and local monitors, the fighting involved heavy weapons, including artillery and drones. The clashes pitted the SDF against a coalition of Turkish-backed Syrian rebel groups, known as the Syrian National Army. This surge in violence created a precarious humanitarian situation for the civilian population trapped in the crossfire.
Details of the Withdrawal and Broader Implications
The evacuation process was reportedly coordinated through Russian mediators. Convoys of buses and vehicles transported fighters and their families out of the contested neighbourhoods. The destination for these evacuated personnel was areas in the broader Aleppo countryside that remain under SDF control.
This military withdrawal represents a notable shift in the complex map of control in northern Syria. Sheikh Maqsoud, in particular, had been a Kurdish-held enclave within government-controlled Aleppo since 2012. Its handover alters the local balance of power and is seen as a setback for Kurdish influence in the city. Analysts suggest the move could be a tactical realignment, allowing the SDF to consolidate its forces in its core territories further east, like Raqqa and Hasaka.
Regional Reactions and Future Uncertainties
The Turkish government has long viewed the YPG as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which it designates as a terrorist organisation. Ankara's military interventions in northern Syria have primarily aimed at pushing Kurdish forces away from its border. The recent clashes and subsequent Kurdish withdrawal from these Aleppo districts are viewed as a success for Turkey's proxy forces.
Meanwhile, the Syrian government in Damascus, which nominally controls Aleppo city, has not publicly intervened to stop the fighting between the Turkey-backed groups and the Kurds. This passive stance is indicative of the fragmented nature of the conflict, where multiple foreign and local actors pursue competing interests.
The immediate aftermath of the evacuation raises critical questions about the safety of the remaining Kurdish civilians in Aleppo and the potential for further territorial advances by the Turkish-backed factions. The situation underscores the ongoing volatility in Syria, where ceasefires are fragile and localised conflicts can reignite quickly, affecting regional stability.
