The Syrian Arab Army’s Operations Command, for its part, declared the area a “military closed zone” and demanded the immediate withdrawal of the SDF and other armed groups in the area, which it considers a significant threat to the country’s security.

In an official statement, the Army explained that this measure was adopted following the constant reinforcement of SDF positions, along with militants from the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), as well as the use of the area as a launching point for suicide drones targeting the city of Aleppo.

The Syrian military authority urged the civilian population to avoid the area to ensure their safety and prevent potential clashes.

The recent measure also comes against the backdrop of recent clashes between government forces and the SDF, which intensified last week with the expulsion of fighters from two Aleppo neighborhoods.

The demand for the SDF’s withdrawal is seen as part of the Syrian government’s efforts to consolidate its control in the country and reduce the Kurdish militia’s influence in the north and east.

Syrian state television published a map demarcating the “closed military zone,” which stretches from Deir Hafer, about 50 kilometers east of Aleppo, to the Euphrates River and southward.

In this context, the US-backed, Kurdish-led SDF has been accused by the Syrian government of sending reinforcements to Deir Hafer, prompting the deployment of Syrian troops to the area in response.

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