SYRIA: Second group of security and military forces withdraw from Holeb’s Ashrafieh and Sheikh Maqsoud districts under peace accord

HOLEB, Syria — A second contingent of military fighters from the General Council of Ashrafieh and Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhoods in Holeb (Aleppo) has withdrawn to areas controlled by the Democratic Autonomous Administration of the Region of North and East Syria (DAARNES). This move is part of a broader agreement signed earlier this month with the Syrian Transitional Government (STG).

Hawar News Agency (ANHA) reported that the latest withdrawal involved approximately 500 fighters, both men and women, along with their military equipment. It follows an initial evacuation of 400 fighters on 4 April, marking significant progress in implementing the peace accord aimed at reducing tensions in these strategic neighborhoods.

The 1 April agreement, consisting of 14 clauses, includes measures such as prisoner exchanges and the phased removal of military forces from both neighborhoods.

This withdrawal reflects a potential shift in power dynamics and a step toward de-escalation in contested urban areas. Analysts suggest that the agreement may pave the way for further reconciliation efforts in Holeb and its surrounding regions, long plagued by competing factions amid Syria’s prolonged conflict.