A group of displaced persons has arrived from Tal Rifaat and Shahba areas in northern Aleppo, which were previously controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and have recently been seized by opposition factions, to northeastern Syria.
The Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (the political umbrella for the SDF) stated today, Monday, December 2, that thousands (the number was not specified) came from the towns of Tal Rifaat, Nubl, and Zahra, to al-Tabqa.
According to what Enab Baladi’s correspondent reported, the Autonomous Administration set up tents in the city of al-Tabqa west of Raqqa today, and emptied schools in the city which are likely to be used for receiving the displaced.
The so-called Afrin and Shahba Peoples’ Council announced the exit of convoys of displaced persons from the Shahba areas, Tal Rifaat, and the surrounding towns that were under SDF control to areas under their control in northeastern Syria.
Hawar News Agency, close to the SDF, reported today about the council that the departure of the displaced persons was to avoid “massacres and the killing of innocents.”
The Afrin and Shahba Peoples’ Council is an executive body affiliated with the Autonomous Administration.
Previously, the areas of Tal Rifaat, Shahba Dam, and surrounding villages and towns were under SDF control, surrounded by areas controlled by the Syrian regime and opposition factions.
It was not clear whether the convoys mentioned by the agency included armed individuals from the SDF and affiliated factions or civilians.
The North Press Agency reported that the Autonomous Administration is preparing to receive thousands of displaced persons from the northern Aleppo countryside to Raqqa and al-Tabqa.
On the other hand, an Enab Baladi correspondent in Aleppo monitored a number of displaced persons heading to the cities of Afrin and Azaz in northern Syria, coming from areas that witnessed battles between the SDF and the Syrian National Army (SNA) in northern Aleppo countryside.
Additionally, some displaced persons headed to areas controlled by the SDF in northeastern Syria, according to Enab Baladi’s correspondent.
Call for a safe passage
The SDF commander, Mazloum Abdi, called for the opening of a safe passage from the Tal Rifaat and Shahba areas in northern Aleppo to areas controlled by his forces in northeastern Syria, confirming the continued presence of his forces in the neighborhoods of Aleppo.
Abdi stated in a statement published by the media center affiliated with the SDF today, Monday, that they are in contact with all actors in Syria to ensure the safe exit of civilians from the Tal Rifaat and Shahba areas in northern Aleppo.
He added that his forces faced intensive and rapid attacks from multiple fronts, coinciding with the collapse and withdrawal of the regime’s army and its allies from Aleppo.
The SDF attempted to open a passage from Tal Rifaat in the northern countryside and neighborhoods within Aleppo; however, the attacks from opposition factions blocked the road connecting them, according to Abdi.
Regarding the SDF forces inside the neighborhoods of Aleppo, Abdi said that they “will continue to resist to protect the Kurdish neighborhoods.”
After the opposition factions entered and took control of most of the city’s neighborhoods, the SDF still maintains its control over the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh neighborhoods in the northeastern part of Aleppo.
Messages to the SDF
On their end, the Military Operations Administration, which is in charge of the “Deterrence of Aggression” operation, sent messages to SDF members, urging them to exit with their weapons from the neighborhoods of Aleppo to northeastern Syria via a safe passage.
The Military Operations Administration stated in its announcement on Sunday, “We are fighting against the Assad regime and pushing back Iranian militias from our cities and villages, ensuring the safety of our residents and their safe return.”
The pace of battles is accelerating, and opposition factions are gaining control over wide areas in northern Syria, reaching northern Hama in central Syria, amidst rapid withdrawals from the regime’s ranks.
The opposition factions launched two separate operations, the first being “Deterrence of Aggression” on November 27, which began in western Aleppo and captured most of the province, except for the Ashrafieh and Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhoods controlled by the SDF.
Additionally, the Syrian National Army launched the “Dawn of Freedom” operation on November 30, against the Syrian regime and the SDF, and took control of large parts of the eastern and northern Aleppo countryside, reaching the Kuwaires military airport.
Today, the opposition factions announced separately their control over the towns and villages of Tal Qarrah, Jayjan, Tal Jayjan, Halisa, Umm al-Amad, Tal Rahal, Shahba Dam, the village of Fafin and others in the northern Aleppo countryside.
The factions also took control on Sunday of towns and villages that were under SDF control, most notably Tal Rifaat, Menagh Airport, and Kafr Naya.