Source: sdf-press.com
The Damascus government and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have reached an agreement to de-escalate and end siege on several areas in northern and northeastern Syria.
Syrian government forces lifted its siege of the SDF-held district of Sheikh Maqsoud in Aleppo city. On April 28, trucks loaded with wheat and other supplies entered the district coming from government-held areas without facing any problems.
The Syrian Arab Army besieged Sheikh Maqsoud exactly 46 days ago in response to an alleged attack by militants hiding in the district.
26 days into the government siege on Sheikh Maqsoud, the SDF besieged the government-held security zones in al-Hasakah city and the town of al-Qamishli.
Governor of al-Hasakah, Major General Ghassan Halim Khalil, confirmed to al-Watan newspaper on April 28 that the SDF had lifted its siege off the security zones, saying that the situation in al-Hasakah city and al-Qamishli will return to normal.
The Damascus-SDF agreement was reportedly brokered by Russia, who has been working nonstop to de-escalate tensions between the two sides.
The agreement came amid a Turkish escalation against Syrian government forces and the SDF. In the last few weeks, the Turkish military and its proxies carried out several attacks in northern and northeastern Syria. Both government forces and the SDF were targeted.
Ankara may be bracing to launch a new operation in northern and northeastern Syria. Damascus and the SDF will have to work together to prevent such an escalation.
