Syrian Army, SDF trade accusations of ceasefire violations

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Al Mayadeen
Today 15:38
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Syrian Army and SDF trade blame for ceasefire breaches near the Tishreen Dam as tensions rise less than 48 hours after a ceasefire deal.

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A Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighter mans a machine gun fixed on a pickup truck, at al-Sabha town in the eastern countryside of Deir Deir Ezzor, Syria, September 4, 2023 (AP)

The Syrian Ministry of Defense accused the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on Thursday of violating the recently declared ceasefire in northern Syria by targeting Syrian army positions near the Tishreen Dam in eastern Aleppo countryside.

According to a statement from the Ministry’s Media and Communications Department, SDF units fired on several army posts, killing one soldier and injuring others. The Ministry said the attacks constituted “more than ten violations” of the ceasefire agreement, less than 48 hours after it was announced.

It added that the SDF continues to fortify its positions across multiple frontlines, noting that security agencies intercepted “provocative communications” inciting attacks against the Syrian army and internal security forces in Aleppo.

SDF claims Damascus forces attempted infiltration

In a counterstatement, the SDF’s media center claimed its fighters thwarted an attempted infiltration by forces loyal to the Damascus government in the same area near the Tishreen Dam.

According to the SDF, a group of pro-government fighters tried to approach one of its positions early Thursday morning, using hand grenades in an effort to disrupt local security.

“Our forces immediately engaged the attacking group, leading to the death of one assailant, while the others fled, leaving the body behind,” the SDF statement said.

The group stressed that it acted “in legitimate self-defense” to repel the infiltration and reaffirmed its commitment to protecting civilians and maintaining stability in the area.

Partial reopening in Aleppo neighborhoods

Meanwhile, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that government security forces reopened pedestrian access to the al-Awarid and al-Sheihan roads leading to Aleppo’s Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyah neighborhoods, after several days of closure.

Vehicle access remains suspended, though the group said barriers around the two districts may soon be removed.

Fragile ceasefire under strain

The latest incidents come just two days after Syrian Defense Minister Merhaf Abu Qasra and SDF commander Mazloum Abdi agreed on an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire across northern and northeastern Syria, following weeks of deadly clashes in Aleppo and Deir Ezzor.

The truce was intended to consolidate the March 2025 integration agreement between Damascus and the Kurdish-led administration, which aimed to unify military and civil institutions under state authority.

However, both sides have since accused each other of repeated violations, underscoring the fragility of the arrangement and the lingering mistrust on the ground.