Syrian Army Orders Evacuation in Eastern Aleppo Amid Rising Tensions with SDF

• What happened: The Syrian army has instructed civilians to evacuate parts of Deir Hafer and Maskana after accusing the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) of reinforcing troops east of Aleppo.

• Why it matters now: Escalating tensions could open a new front in Aleppo, risking more civilian casualties and regional instability.

• What changes for people: Residents in the rural Aleppo governorate face mandatory evacuation and limited access to safe corridors.

• Who is affected: Civilians in eastern Aleppo, SDF fighters, Syrian military personnel, and neighboring countries monitoring the conflict.

The Syrian army has declared parts of eastern Aleppo governorate as closed military zones, calling on civilians to leave following a surge in SDF troop deployments. A temporary humanitarian corridor was scheduled Thursday from 9 am to 5 pm local time, allowing residents to flee safely from Deir Hafer and Maskana.

Military reinforcements have already entered the region after days of deadly clashes inside Aleppo city, where at least 23 people were killed. The government has accused the SDF, which includes Kurdish fighters and PKK affiliates, of building up forces and conducting drone strikes, including one that targeted the Aleppo governorate building.

The SDF has countered, accusing the army of targeting infrastructure and civilian facilities in the region. Earlier, a ceasefire on January 9 allowed some SDF fighters to move northeast of Aleppo, though stalled talks on their incorporation into Syrian state institutions have reignited conflict.

Regional Response and Civilian Impact

Turkish officials, closely monitoring the situation, have stressed the need for peaceful resolution. Nuh Yilmaz, Turkiye’s ambassador to Damascus, said the country is “eagerly awaiting” implementation of the March incorporation deal to avoid further fighting. Civilians in the area reported desperation, with one resident telling Al Jazeera, “Wherever you go, there is bombing. We want to be stable. We want to live.”

Meanwhile, the Syrian Interior Ministry released several SDF detainees, citing that they had no involvement in crimes against civilians. This move is part of the state’s policy to allow the return of those who “have gone astray” but committed no offenses.