The Syrian army deployed military reinforcements to the eastern Aleppo countryside on Monday, Jan. 13, following the withdrawal of Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) from parts of Aleppo city after several days of fighting. Syria’s state news agency, SANA, reported the deployment was a response to alleged SDF troop movements in the region, a claim the SDF has denied.
Syria’s official news agency broadcast footage showing Syrian army units moving toward deployment lines east of Aleppo. The agency quoted the Syrian Army Operations Authority, which stated, “We have observed the arrival of more armed groups to the deployment points of the SDF organisation in the eastern Aleppo countryside near Maskana and Deir Hafer.”
SANA also reported that intelligence sources indicated the new arrivals included fighters from the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
In a statement, the SDF denied the Syrian Ministry of Defence’s accusation that it had deployed military forces to the Deir Hafer front. The SDF said there were no unusual military movements or preparations in the area. According to the group, recent gatherings consisted of civilians from northern and eastern Syria who were there to receive wounded individuals from the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh neighborhoods of Aleppo.
The military movements occurred as Syrian government forces conducted security operations within Aleppo city, searching for and removing explosive devices and weapons. Residents have begun returning to the Ashrafieh neighborhood to assess damage to property. Access to the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood remained restricted while security sweeps continued.
Reports on the number of casualties from the preceding fighting differ. Munir al-Mohammad, media director at Aleppo’s health directorate, told SANA on Sunday that at least 24 civilians had been killed and 129 wounded in attacks targeting civilian areas since the previous Tuesday. Separately, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a United Kingdom-based monitoring group, reported a total of 45 civilians killed, in addition to 60 soldiers and fighters from both sides.
The SDF’s withdrawal from the neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh ends the group’s presence in parts of Aleppo it had held since 2011. The events follow the overthrow of former leader Bashar al-Assad in December 2024.
In related diplomatic activity, United States envoy Tom Barrack met with President Ahmed al-Sharaa on Saturday and called for a “return to dialogue” in line with a recent integration agreement.
