Syrian Civilians Flee Kurdish Region Amidst Army Advance East of Aleppo

Civilian Displacement East of Aleppo

• 🚚 Kurdish Syrians are evacuating areas east of Aleppo, near Deer Hafir, due to fears of escalating violence.
• 💔 Tens of thousands have been displaced in recent weeks, with humanitarian groups estimating half of the displaced are children.
• 🏠 Many are seeking refuge in government shelters outside of territory controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

SDF Resistance and Government Advance

• 🚧 The main road out of the area is reportedly blocked by the SDF with rocks, causing delays and preventing civilians from leaving.
• ⚔️ The Syrian army has deployed reinforcements to push the SDF east of the Euphrates River.
• 🏛️ The SDF has resisted integration into the new government led by President Ahmed al-Sharah, who took over after Bashar al-Assad's fall in 2024.

Escalating Conflict and Past Fighting

• 🗣️ Turkey's foreign minister expressed hope for a peaceful resolution but acknowledged the potential necessity of Syrian government force.
• 🕊️ Despite a ceasefire, fighting in Aleppo last week reportedly resulted in dozens of deaths.
• 🚶 More than 150,000 people fled as the Syrian army regained control of two city pockets previously held by the SDF since the Syrian civil war began in 2011.