The Syrian Ministry of Defense announced a ceasefire in the neighborhoods of Aleppo city starting at 3:00 AM local time on Friday, giving armed groups there six hours to withdraw.
The Ministry clarified in a statement regarding the military escalation in the city: “Ceasing fire in the vicinity of the Sheikh Maqsoud, Ashrafiyah, and Bani Zeid neighborhoods in Aleppo city, effective from 3:00 AM after midnight.”
The statement continued: “Armed groups in the Sheikh Maqsoud, Ashrafiyah, and Bani Zeid neighborhoods are required to leave the area starting at 3:00 AM after midnight, with the deadline ending precisely at 9:00 AM on Friday.”
The statement added that “departing fighters are permitted to carry only their personal light weapons, and the Syrian Arab Army pledges to secure their escort and ensure their safe passage until they reach areas in the northeast of the country.”
The Ministry affirmed that “this measure aims to end the military situation in these neighborhoods, paving the way for the return of the rule of law and official institutions, as well as enabling residents who were forced to leave their homes to return to them, to resume their normal lives in an atmosphere of security and stability.”
The Ministry stressed the necessity of “strict adherence to the specified deadline, to ensure everyone’s safety and prevent any field friction.”
It also mentioned that the Internal Security Forces “are undertaking, in coordination with the operations command of the Syrian Arab Army, to arrange the mechanism for the armed groups’ exit from the neighborhoods towards the northeast.”
Aleppo
Aleppo is one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities, located in modern-day Syria. Its historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage site, was a major trading hub for centuries, famed for its iconic medieval citadel and labyrinthine souk, though it has suffered extensive damage during the Syrian Civil War.
Syrian Ministry of Defense
The Syrian Ministry of Defense is the government body responsible for the Syrian Arab Armed Forces, headquartered in Damascus. Its modern structure was established following Syria’s independence in 1946, and it has played a central role in the country’s military engagements, including the ongoing Syrian Civil War since 2011.
Sheikh Maqsoud
Sheikh Maqsoud is a predominantly Kurdish neighborhood in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo. It gained prominence during the Syrian Civil War as a self-administered area under Kurdish control, known for its local councils and defense units. The area’s modern history is deeply tied to the conflict and the broader Kurdish political movement in Syria.
Ashrafiyah
Ashrafiyah is a historic and predominantly Christian district in eastern Beirut, Lebanon, known for its vibrant cultural life and architecture. It was a central area during the Lebanese Civil War and has since been revitalized, maintaining its significance as a hub for arts, education, and heritage.
Bani Zeid
Bani Zeid is a Palestinian town in the central West Bank, historically known for its agricultural lands and olive groves. Its modern history is tied to the broader political developments in the region following the 1948 and 1967 Arab-Israeli conflicts.
Syrian Arab Army
The Syrian Arab Army is the land force branch of the Syrian Armed Forces, founded in 1946 following Syria’s independence from France. It has been a central institution in the modern state, playing a decisive role in the country’s domestic politics and, since 2011, in the ongoing Syrian civil war.
Internal Security Forces
The Internal Security Forces (ISF) is Lebanon’s national police and internal security agency, established in its modern form in 1861 during the Ottoman era. It is a civil force responsible for maintaining public order, enforcing laws, and conducting criminal investigations across the country.
