DAMASCUS, Oct 8 (NNN-SANA) – Syria’s chief of defence authorities, said yesterday, he met with Kurdish-led forces’ commander, Mazloum Abdi, in Damascus, and agreed to an immediate ceasefire across all fronts, in northern and north-eastern Syria, following a day of fierce clashes between government-aligned forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
In a brief statement, Marhaf Abu Qasra, chief of defence authorities, said that, the meeting resulted in “a comprehensive ceasefire, covering all axes and deployment points in northern and north-eastern Syria, to be implemented immediately.”
The ceasefire announcement came, hours after heavy fighting shook the Kurdish-held neighbourhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyah in Aleppo, killing one security officer and wounding several others, according to defence authorities.
The war monitor Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said, pro-government forces had earlier surrounded the two districts, using heavy and medium weapons, in what it described as the most serious escalation since March.
Defence authorities said, the recent troop movements were part of a planned redeployment, aimed at “securing strategic points,” following repeated SDF attacks on civilians, the army, and security forces. They stressed, Damascus remains committed to the March 10 agreement with the SDF and had no intention of a broader offensive.
Aleppo Governor, Azzam al-Gharib, urged residents to stay indoors and said, efforts were underway “to ensure this is the last night the city hears the sounds of clashes.”
The SDF denied attacking government positions and accused Damascus-aligned groups of imposing “a suffocating siege” and provoking the confrontation.– NNN-SANA
