Some Kurdish fighters pull out of Aleppo, clashes still ongoing — Reuters
Illustrative photo: Military airport in Aleppo (Getty Images)
Dozens of Kurdish fighters have left Aleppo. At the same time, the Syrian army says it is continuing its operation to clear the city, where, according to its information, armed groups remain despite the previously announced ceasefire, Reuters reports.
The escalation in Aleppo has deepened the confrontation between Syria's new government and Kurdish forces, who fear President Ahmed al-Sharaa's government.
The US and other countries have supported the ceasefire, but Kurdish units have refused to leave their last stronghold in the city.
Reuters journalists saw dozens of men, women, and children leaving Sheikh Maksoud and being taken by bus to shelters for internally displaced persons. According to the agency, the fighting has already forced more than 140,000 people to flee their homes.
Syrian security forces also reported the surrender of more than 100 members of the Kurdish Asayish security forces. However, the Kurdish side denies this.
US Ambassador Tom Barrack reported on a meeting with President al-Sharaa in Damascus and called on the parties to immediately cease hostilities and return to dialogue. According to him, Washington is ready to act as a mediator, and the agreements provided for the peaceful withdrawal of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) from Aleppo.
Due to the fighting in Aleppo, a key highway to Türkiye and factories in its industrial zone were closed. The Syrian Civil Aviation Authority announced on Saturday, January 10, that Aleppo International Airport would remain closed until further notice.
Incidents in Syria
In mid-December, an ISIS militant ambushed and killed two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in Syria. US President Donald Trump promised to respond with a serious strike.
Also, on September 19, the US Central Command announced that American troops had killed ISIS external operations planner Omar Abdul Kader during a raid in Syria.
On July 25, it became known that US troops had conducted a raid in the Syrian province of Aleppo. During the operation, the US military managed to eliminate senior ISIS leader Diyya Zuba Muslih al-Khardani.
