ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - German foreign ministry said on Wednesday that Germany is following the ongoing clashes between Kurdish forces and Syrian forces in Aleppo "with great concern," calling on all sides to "return to the negotiating table."
“We are following reports of violent clashes and civilian casualties in and around Aleppo with great concern,” the ministry told Rudaw English in response to an email.
“We call on all sides to cease hostilities and return to the negotiating table. Peace and stability in northeastern Syria can only be achieved through political agreements," the ministry added.
Syrian state forces and Kurdish internal security forces (Asayish), which control the Kurdish-majority neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsood and Ashrafiyeh in northern Aleppo, have been engaged in intense fighting since Tuesday. Both sides have traded blame and reported casualties, most of whom are civilians.
The clashes have taken place despite a landmark agreement between the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the interim government in Damascus, which includes a nationwide ceasefire. Another agreement, which was signed a month later, focuses on the two neighborhoods.
The SDF withdrew from the two neighborhoods in accordance with its April agreement with Damascus. Asayish is affiliated with the Kurdish-led forces.
The German foreign ministry called on the SDF and the Syrian government to “quickly” implement the March agreement.
“We are following reports of violent clashes and civilian casualties in and around Aleppo with great concern,” the ministry told Rudaw English in response to an email.
“We call on all sides to cease hostilities and return to the negotiating table. Peace and stability in northeastern Syria can only be achieved through political agreements," the ministry added.
Syrian state forces and Kurdish internal security forces (Asayish), which control the Kurdish-majority neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsood and Ashrafiyeh in northern Aleppo, have been engaged in intense fighting since Tuesday. Both sides have traded blame and reported casualties, most of whom are civilians.
The clashes have taken place despite a landmark agreement between the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the interim government in Damascus, which includes a nationwide ceasefire. Another agreement, which was signed a month later, focuses on the two neighborhoods.
The SDF withdrew from the two neighborhoods in accordance with its April agreement with Damascus. Asayish is affiliated with the Kurdish-led forces.
The German foreign ministry called on the SDF and the Syrian government to “quickly” implement the March agreement.
Updated at 9:18 pm
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