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Syrian military enters key town near Aleppo
Syrian government forces have moved into Deir Hafer, a town approximately 50 kilometers east of Aleppo, following the withdrawal of Kurdish fighters from the area, military officials confirmed on Saturday.
Kurdish forces pull back after US-mediated talks
The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a Kurdish-led militia, announced on Friday that it would redeploy its units east of the Euphrates River. The decision came after discussions with U.S. officials and a pledge from Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa to recognize Kurdish as an official national language.
In a statement to the state-run Sana news agency, the Syrian army declared it had established "full military control" over Deir Hafer and urged civilians to avoid the area until it is secured and cleared of explosives.
Civilians flee as tensions persist
Syrian authorities reported that at least 4,000 residents had left Deir Hafer in recent days, following warnings from the military to evacuate. Images circulating online showed Syrian troops, including tanks, advancing toward the town.
Despite the withdrawal, both sides have accused each other of violating agreements. The Syrian army claimed two of its soldiers were killed by Kurdish forces during the advance, while the SDF alleged that government troops entered the area prematurely.
Historic recognition of Kurdish rights
President al-Sharaa issued a decree on Friday formally recognizing Kurdish as a national language and declaring the Kurdish New Year an official holiday. The move marks the first such recognition since Syria's independence in 1946 and describes Kurds as "an essential and integral part" of the country.
"This is a first step, but we need permanent constitutions that reflect the will of the people, not temporary decrees," the Kurdish administration in northern Syria said in response.
US envoy to meet Kurdish leader amid lingering disputes
U.S. Special Envoy Tom Barrack is scheduled to meet with SDF leader Mazloum Abdi later on Saturday in Erbil, the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan. The meeting follows Abdi's agreement to pull back his forces "in response to calls from friendly countries and mediators."
The SDF has controlled large parts of Syria's oil-rich northeast for nearly a decade, gaining territory during the civil war and the fight against the Islamic State group. Since the ousting of former President Bashar al-Assad in late 2024, al-Sharaa has sought to integrate Kurdish military and civilian institutions into the Syrian state.
A March 2025 agreement between the SDF and the government aimed to formalize this integration, but implementation has stalled, with both sides blaming each other for the delay.
