Following fierce fighting between government and Kurdish-led forces in Aleppo city, the Syrian military said on Thursday that it will offer a passage for civilians to flee a region of Aleppo province that has seen a military buildup.
Plans for an offensive on the towns of Deir Hafer and Maskana and neighboring areas, some 60 kilometers east of Aleppo city, appeared to be indicated by the army’s announcement late on Wednesday that civilians would be free to flee through the “humanitarian corridor” on Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Syrian Democratic Forces, led by Kurds, and other armed groups were urged by the military to relocate to the east of the disputed area, across the Euphrates River.
Drone strikes in Aleppo city, including one that struck the Aleppo governorate building on Saturday just after two Cabinet ministers and a local official attended a news conference there, have been alleged by the government of being carried out by the SDF.
Following several days of fierce fighting in Aleppo last week, which resulted in the evacuation of Kurdish militants and the occupation of three disputed neighborhoods by government troops, there are now tensions in the Deir Hafer area. At least 23 people were murdered, several others were injured, and tens of thousands were displaced as a result of the fighting.
Negotiations between Damascus and the SDF, which controls a sizable portion of northeastern Syria, have stopped over an accord to combine their troops and for the central government, which is why fighting broke out.
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