US urges SDF pullback from eastern Aleppo, say sources

US urges SDF pullback from eastern Aleppo, say sources Submitted by Ragip Soylu on Fri, 01/16/2026 - 14:03 Washington presses the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces to withdraw from the Euphrates’ western bank as Syrian troops advance near Dayr  Hafir Syrian army reinforcements deploy to the Dayr Hafir front, where the SDF has its last remaining foothold on the western bank of the Euphrates, on 14 January 2026 (Mahmoud Hassano/Reuters) Off The United States has asked the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to withdraw their remaining fighters from parts of the eastern Aleppo countryside, but the Kurdish-led group has rejected the request, regional sources familiar with the matter told Middle East Eye. Syrian and SDF forces have been shelling each other near Dayr Hafir, where the SDF controls its last remaining foothold on the western bank of the Euphrates River. The clashes mark a sharp escalation following months of uneasy calm between the two sides. After a months-long ceasefire, Syrian government forces earlier this month launched an operation to expel SDF-linked internal security units from Aleppo’s al-Ashrafiyah and Sheikh Maqsoud neighbourhoods, accusing them of killing civilians with sniper and mortar fire. A deal subsequently brokered between local mediators allowed dozens of Kurdish fighters to evacuate, and residents have since begun returning to their homes. Several regional sources told MEE that Damascus carried out the Aleppo operation after receiving a green light from Washington. “US authorities also asked the SDF to withdraw its forces from the western bank of the Euphrates,” one of the sources said. The US envoy for Syria, Tom Barrack, said in an online post on Friday that his government remains in close contact with all parties in Syria to prevent escalation. Tensions between SDF and Damascus The Aleppo operation has further strained relations between Damascus and the SDF, which have been attempting to finalise an implementation plan for the 10 March memorandum of understanding - an agreement that calls for the integration of Kurdish-led forces into the Syrian military. Syrian President Ahmed al‑Sharaa this week accused SDF leaders of failing to honour the agreement, claiming in televised remarks that their decision‑making is beholden to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) leadership based in Iraq’s Qandil Mountains. Ilham Ahmed, the de-facto SDF official who handles the foreign affairs, said on Thursday that “the government’s claim that we have not implemented the 10 March agreement is incorrect, and the international parties know this”. During an online press conference, Ahmed said the SDF was in contact with the US and Turkey, had presented several initiatives for de-escalation and was waiting for their response, adding that what happened in Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyah was the result of international understandings. Another source told MEE that on Friday the SDF formally rejected a US proposal to withdraw from Dayr Hafir. Meanwhile, Syrian forces opened several evacuation routes on Thursday to allow civilians to leave the area, but the SDF reportedly blocked the exits, the source said. A US military delegation visited Dayr Hafir to meet local residents and was expected to press the SDF to allow civilian departures. Kurdish-led SDF and the Syrian government agree to stop deadly fighting in Aleppo Read More » The Syrian military said in a statement broadcast by state television that “the doors remain open” for Syrian fighters, both Kurds and Arabs, wishing to defect from the SDF and rejoin the Syrian army. “The homeland welcomes their return at any time and place,” the statement said, adding that “the problem remains with the PKK terrorist militias and remnants of the defunct regime who seek to target the people and destroy Syria’s social fabric.” The Ministry of Defence’s media department said on Friday that several SDF fighters had laid down their arms and defected on the Dayr Hafir front, east of Aleppo. A Syrian government source familiar with the matter told MEE that the army was preparing a broader operation to clear SDF positions from the area. MEE has contacted the SDF and US authorities for comment. Syria after Assad Ankara News Post Date Override 0 Update Date Mon, 05/04/2020 - 21:19 Update Date Override 0