More Kurdish Forces Withdraw from Aleppo Under Agreement with Syrian Government

A convoy of YPG fighters departing Kurdish neighborhoods in Aleppo as part of a local agreement with the Syrian government – North Press
A convoy of YPG fighters departing Kurdish neighborhoods in Aleppo as part of a local agreement with the Syrian government – North Press

By Kardo Roj

ALEPPO, Syria (North Press) – A second group of fighters from the People’s Protection Units (YPG) withdrew on Wednesday from the predominantly Kurdish neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo, as part of an ongoing implementation of a security and administrative agreement with the Syrian government.

The withdrawal follows a preliminary phase earlier this month, during which a first contingent of YPG fighters left the area. According to local officials, the gradual handover is being carried out in coordination with Damascus and involves the transfer of security responsibilities to the Asayish, the internal security force affiliated with the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES).

“This is a historic agreement that should be preserved and built upon,” a local Kurdish official involved in the process told North Press, speaking on condition of anonymity. The official confirmed that preparations are underway for further steps, including the possibility of additional withdrawals and prisoner exchanges.

Nargis Bakr, a member of the negotiation committee representing the Kurdish neighborhoods in Aleppo, confirmed the latest withdrawal. “Today marks the exit of the second group of YPG fighters in accordance with the agreement, which includes handing over security in Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh to the Asayish,” she said.

Bakr indicated that the arrangement remains fluid, and more movements could follow in the coming weeks. “Further withdrawals may occur, depending on the pace of implementation and coordination with the relevant authorities,” she added.

The agreement appears to be a continuation of the administrative, security, and service pact announced in early April by senior AANES official Badran Jia Kurd. At the time, Jia Kurd described the understanding as a “cooperative framework” between the Kurdish-led administration and the Syrian government aimed at de-escalating tensions and improving basic services in contested urban areas.

The neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh have long stood as symbolic enclaves of Kurdish autonomy inside Aleppo, with security previously overseen by the YPG alongside the Asayish. These neighborhoods have operated under a semi-independent administration while maintaining a tenuous coexistence with Syrian government forces in adjacent areas.

The recent shift marks a notable realignment in the security configuration of Aleppo and signals a potential thawing in relations between the AANES and the central government—at least on local matters.

Sources familiar with the talks suggest that the current arrangement is aimed at reducing friction while allowing for a clearer delineation of responsibilities between the Asayish and Damascus’s state institutions, particularly in terms of civilian services, humanitarian access, and local policing.

While the deal pertains specifically to Aleppo, analysts say it reflects broader efforts by the AANES to consolidate its governance model in urban areas outside its traditional stronghold in the Jazira and Euphrates regions. At the same time, it underscores the complex balancing act facing the administration as it navigates relations with both Damascus and international actors, particularly amid continued Turkish military threats along the northern border.

The YPG, which forms the core of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), has been instrumental in the defeat of ISIS and remains a key partner in the U.S.-led coalition’s counterterrorism operations. However, its presence in areas outside of AANES core territory, such as Aleppo, has been a point of contention with both Damascus and Ankara.

Although Syrian government media has remained muted about the specifics of the agreement, officials have not opposed the handover to the Asayish, suggesting a degree of tacit coordination.

Local officials hope that the continued implementation will lead to greater stability in Aleppo’s Kurdish districts, ensuring both security and improved public services. However, the process remains delicate and subject to political shifts, both domestically and internationally.

As of now, the situation remains calm, with no reported incidents during the withdrawal. The coming days will be critical in determining whether this agreement can lead to lasting stability in one of Syria’s most complex urban battlefields.