ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Forces loyal to Bashar al-Assad have raised their flag on Thursday in a pocket of neighborhoods in Aleppo city which have been under the control of the Kurdish YPG.
In addition to Sheikh Maqsood, the pro-regime loyalists entered the quarters of Bustan al-Pasha, Hellok, al-Haidariya, Shaqif, Bani Zaid and al-Shabab, a local source told Rudaw.
In Aleppo in 2016, regime troops conducted a month-long offensive, then secured a deal that evacuated the city's rebel-controlled half.
People’s Protection Units (YPG) forces have controlled small areas in the city since December 2016.
Media close to the regime reported on Thursday morning that the YPG would “hand over” the areas. The YPG has not confirmed any such deal.
A spokesperson for the YPG in northwestern Aleppo’s Afrin district has denied previous deals between the YPG and Damascus
In addition to Sheikh Maqsood, the pro-regime loyalists entered the quarters of Bustan al-Pasha, Hellok, al-Haidariya, Shaqif, Bani Zaid and al-Shabab, a local source told Rudaw.
Pro-Assad forces have been massing around Eastern Ghouta, apparently preparing for a ground offensive, AFP reported on Thursday.
In Aleppo in 2016, regime troops conducted a month-long offensive, then secured a deal that evacuated the city's rebel-controlled half.
People’s Protection Units (YPG) forces have controlled small areas in the city since December 2016.
Media close to the regime reported on Thursday morning that the YPG would “hand over” the areas. The YPG has not confirmed any such deal.
A spokesperson for the YPG in northwestern Aleppo’s Afrin district has denied previous deals between the YPG and Damascus
"We are fed up of this news,” said spokesperson Brusk Hasake on Monday “…we will not hide it from you and the public.”
Salih Muslim, the founder and former co-chair of the PYD, explained that for the YPG, "being oppressed" by the Baathist party of Assad or by Turkey "does not constitute a difference for them."
"At the moment there are negotiations with the Syrian government on the mediation of Russia, but not yet reached an agreement," he told Germany's Deutsche Welle on Monday.
The YPG pocket in Aleppo city has not been incorporated into the Northern Syrian Federation known as Rojava by Kurds. The YPG is the armed wing of the Democratic Union Party (PYD).
Rojava consists of three regions: Afrin in the west, Euphrates in the centre, and Jazira in the east. PYD is the dominate party within the federation.
Through the seven-year conflict, Kurdish and Syrian-regime fighters have largely avoided full-scale battles for territory.
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