"The SDF appeared to have largely retreated after initial clashes on a tense frontline area in eastern Aleppo province. Hours after the government announced the deal, SDF leader Mazloum Abdi confirmed it in a video statement, saying the group had accepted the agreement, which stipulates their withdrawal from Raqqa and Deir el-Zour provinces to stop the bloodshed. We will explain the terms of the agreement to our people in the coming days, he said."
"Syria's new leaders, since toppling Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, have struggled to assert their full authority over the country. An agreement was reached in March that would merge the SDF with Damascus, but it didn't gain traction as both sides accused each other of violating the deal. Since the push, the government has largely asserted control of the Deir el-Zour and Raqqa provinces, critical areas under the SDF that include oil and gas fields, river dams along the Euphrates, and border crossings."
Syria announced a ceasefire with the Syrian Democratic Forces after government forces pushed east and seized near-total control of the north-east. The deal requires SDF withdrawal from Raqqa and Deir el-Zour provinces and led to halted frontline fighting after the defence ministry ordered a halt. SDF leader Mazloum Abdi confirmed acceptance and said the group would explain the terms to its people. Government forces have largely taken control of oil and gas fields, Euphrates river dams, and border crossings in Deir el-Zour and Raqqa. A previous March merger agreement with Damascus failed to take hold amid mutual accusations of violations.
Read at www.theguardian.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]