The first convoy of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) has exited the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh neighborhoods in the northern section of the city of Aleppo, in accordance with the agreement made with the Syrian government.

A correspondent from Enab Baladi reported the departure of a convoy from the SDF today, Friday, April 4, consisting of around 500 fighters with their weapons, accompanied by General Security Forces to secure the road.

A source in Aleppo province, who preferred to remain anonymous as they are not authorized to speak to the media, stated that the convoy will head towards the city of Deir Hafer east of Aleppo, and then continue to areas in northeastern Syria.

The Syrian news agency (SANA) reported that the first convoy of the SDF withdrew from the city of Aleppo towards east of the Euphrates under the supervision of the Ministry of Defense.

A member of the Syrian Ministry of Defense accompanies a convoy of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Aleppo – April 4, 2025 (Enab Baladi/Mohamed Masto)

For its part, the Hawar News Agency, which is close to the SDF, confirmed that the departure of military forces from the Ashrafiyeh and Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhoods in Aleppo was a result of the agreement established between the Civil Council of Ashrafiyeh and Sheikh Maqsoud and the Damascus government.

Hawar reported a statement from the People’s Protection Units (YPG) regarding their withdrawal from the neighborhoods of Ashrafiyeh and Sheikh Maqsoud, transferring the security responsibilities of the two neighborhoods to the Internal Security Forces (Asayish).

Neither the SDF nor the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) commented on the convoy’s departure at the time this report was published.

The withdrawal was conducted under an agreement between representatives from the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh neighborhoods and representatives from the presidency – April 4, 2025 (Enab Baladi/Mohamed Masto)

The exit of the SDF forces was part of a 14-point agreement established between representatives from the presidential office and the Civil Council for the Ashrafiyeh and Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhoods on April 1 of this year.

The sixth point of the agreement stipulated “the gradual withdrawal of military forces belonging to the SDF from the two neighborhoods to their designated area in northeastern Syria.”

A convoy of Syrian General Security accompanies the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Aleppo – April 4, 2025 (Enab Baladi/Mohamed Masto)

More than 200 detainees were released during a prisoner exchange operation that took place on Thursday, April 3, as part of the first phase of the agreement.

The Director of Internal Security in Aleppo, Major Mohammad Abdul Ghani, stated in a press conference attended by Enab Baladi that this operation constitutes the first phase of the agreement made between the transitional Syrian president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, and the commander of the SDF, Mazloum Abdi.

Abdul Ghani did not disclose the numbers released from each side; however, he confirmed that the total numbers with both sides exceed 600 detainees.

He confirmed that there will be more phases through which all prisons will be cleared, indicating “significant efforts” being made to free all Syrians detained by all parties.

A vehicle raises the flag of the People’s Protection Units (YPG) during its withdrawal from the neighborhoods of Aleppo towards northeastern Syria – April 4, 2025 (Enab Baladi/Mohamed Masto)

Regarding the fate of the Internal Security Forces (Asayish) affiliated with the SDF, Ali Hanoura, Deputy Governor of Aleppo, clarified that the current agreement is derived from the general agreement between al-Sharaa and Abdi.

Hanoura noted during the press conference that armed individuals in the Ashrafiyeh and Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhoods will head in the coming days to northeastern Syria, and other agreements will be made subsequently, without mentioning the fate of the Asayish within the neighborhoods.

A convoy of Syrian General Security Forces accompanies the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Aleppo – April 4, 2025 (Enab Baladi/Mohamed Masto)

SDF-affiliated forces have fully controlled the neighborhoods since 2015 and maintained their control after the entry of the Military Operations Administration on November 30, 2024.

Since the entry of the Military Operations Administration, which is the nucleus of the current military authority, into Aleppo on November 30, 2024, SDF-affiliated forces continued to control the neighborhoods.

These neighborhoods witnessed sporadic clashes in the early hours after the entry of the Military Operations Administration, but they calmed down after the latter completed its control over the neighborhoods of Aleppo.

Additionally, the surrounding areas of Ashrafiyeh and Sheikh Maqsoud witnessed sniper operations that led to the deaths of civilians, especially in the al-Layramoun area.

On March 10, the transitional Syrian president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, signed an agreement that was described as “historic” with the commander of the SDF, Mazloum Abdi.

The agreement stipulated the integration of the SDF and its affiliated military and civil institutions into the Syrian state.