Government forces kill SDF fighters violating ceasefire agreement in Aleppo
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said on Saturday that Syria’s transitional government had violated an internationally brokered agreement in Aleppo eastern countryside, northwestern Syria, reporting that clashes erupted in the Debsi Afnan area in the west of Raqqa, resulting in the deaths of several fighters.
In a statement, the SDF said that fighting broke out in Debsi Afnan following what it described as a “a treacherous attack” carried out by forces of the Syrian transitional government against SDF positions in a clear breach of the internationally sponsored agreement.
The SDF said the agreement with Damascus, brokered under international auspices, stipulated “a ceasefire and a 48-hour deadline for our forces to withdraw from the towns of Deir Hafer and Maskana.”
It added that the Syrian transitional government “deployed military convoys, heavy weapons, and tanks to the area before the withdrawal was complete and attacked our fighters, resulting in the martyrdom of several of them.”
The SDF held the international guarantors of the agreement responsible for the violations, saying, “We hold those who violated the agreement and betrayed our forces fully responsible for this escalation. We also hold the international powers sponsoring the agreement responsible for what is happening and call upon them to intervene immediately to stop the violations and prevent further deterioration of the situation.”