The Syrian army announced on Saturday that its forces have entered the towns of Deir Hafer and Maskana in the eastern Aleppo governorate, following a withdrawal of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) from the area.
According to a statement carried by Syria’s state media, army units advanced into the two towns and began operations to secure them. The statement detailed that military engineering units were deployed to dismantle mines and clear unexploded ordnance left behind.
The transfer of control changes the security landscape in the eastern countryside of Aleppo, a region where various factions have held influence throughout the Syrian conflict. Deir Hafer and Maskana are strategically located along a key highway.
The Syrian government’s army is the state’s official military force. The Syrian Democratic Forces is an alliance of militias formed in 2015, which has received backing from a U.S.-led coalition.
Reports preceding the army’s advance indicated rising tensions between government forces and the SDF in northern Syria. According to Al Jazeera, which first reported the army’s statement, civilians had been observed leaving other parts of Aleppo as the situation evolved, though specific numbers were not provided.
As of Saturday evening, the Syrian Democratic Forces had not issued a public statement explaining the reasons for its withdrawal from Deir Hafer and Maskana. The Syrian army’s announcement noted that its forces were continuing their advancement in the region.
