Aleppo officials call on SDF to defect, surrender weapons

Aleppo officials have urged members of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to defect, surrender their weapons, and cooperate with authorities, as the Internal Security Directorate highlighted ongoing violations in the city’s al-Ashrafieh and Sheikh Maqsoud neighbourhoods.

In a statement released on January 8, the directorate said the SDF continues to ignore previously signed agreements and all initiatives aimed at restoring full state control over these areas, Caliber.Az reports via Syrian media.

It held the group fully responsible for “indiscriminate shelling and gunfire targeting residential areas and populated neighbourhoods,” causing civilian casualties and significant damage to infrastructure. These acts were described as clear violations of the law that undermine public safety and civilian stability.

Aleppo Governor Azzam Al-Gharib condemned the SDF for using civilians “both as shields and targets,” stressing that attacks on homes, hospitals, and government institutions are unforgivable crimes that “will not go unanswered.” He also urged residents to avoid gatherings, steer clear of areas under fire, and limit travel to essential movements, while affirming the government’s commitment to protecting Aleppo’s population and holding perpetrators accountable.

The Syrian government further framed the situation as a direct consequence of the SDF’s breach of an April 1st agreement. In a statement on January 8, it emphasised that Kurds remain an “essential and original part of the Syrian people” and full partners in the homeland, not a separate party.

“The Syrian State has provided protection and shelter for the displaced Kurdish citizens, alongside their Arab brothers, offering them housing and basic services out of its national and humanitarian responsibility, with the aim of repatriating them to their areas safely and with dignity,” the statement said.

It stressed that a solution cannot be found through “the used-up media rhetoric” or the exchange of accusations, but only through state institutions, “the sole guarantor of the country’s unity and the protection of all citizens.”

The government called for the withdrawal of militia forces from Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh, demanding an end to “this military presence that poses a threat to civilian lives and obstructs any serious political solution.”

Concluding its statement, the Syrian government reiterated that stability cannot be achieved while weapons remain outside state control and that the only path to lasting peace is the restoration of law and institutions to safeguard Syria’s unity and the security of all its citizens.

By Jeyhun Aghazada