ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Netherlands has expressed deep concern to Rudaw over deadly clashes between Syrian government forces and the Kurdish Internal Security Forces (Asayish) in Aleppo, emphasizing the importance of stability in Syria to prevent a resurgence of the Islamic State (ISIS).
In a Saturday email, the Dutch foreign ministry stated, “The Netherlands is deeply concerned by the continued violence in Aleppo,” adding, “We are closely monitoring the situation, welcome the temporary ceasefire, and call on all parties to exercise restraint and continue dialogue.
“Achieving stability in Syria is of paramount importance, including to prevent a resurgence of ISIS,” the ministry underlined.
Deadly clashes erupted in Aleppo’s Kurdish neighborhoods, Ashrafiyeh and Sheikh Maqsood, on Tuesday between Syrian state forces and affiliated armed groups and the Asayish.
The Syrian Arab Army said on Saturday that it had concluded its operation after taking control of both neighborhoods - a claim rejected by the Kurdish forces, who said fighting was still ongoing in Sheikh Maqsood.
The violence in Aleppo’s Kurdish quarters has killed at least 82 people, including 43 civilians, 38 government-aligned fighters, and at least one Asayish member, according to a Sunday report from the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR).
The commander of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which is affiliated with the Asayish, early Sunday announced that an internationally mediated ceasefire had been reached.
In a statement on X, Mazloum Abdi said that, “with mediation by international parties to halt the attacks and violations against our people in Aleppo, we have reached an understanding that leads to a ceasefire and ensures the evacuation of the martyrs, wounded, stranded civilians, and fighters from the Ashrafiyeh and Sheikh Maqsood neighborhoods [in northern Aleppo] to North and East Syria [Rojava].”
“We call on the mediators to uphold their promises to stop the violations and to work toward the safe return of the displaced to their homes,” the SDF commander added.
The announcement followed a statement by the Kurdish-led Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (DAANES) on Saturday, welcoming an offer to transfer Kurdish fighters from Aleppo’s neighborhoods to Rojava.
Elham Ahmad, co-chair of foreign affairs for DAANES, said on X that the administration “welcomes the proposal of the international mediating forces to safely reposition the forces” in Sheikh Maqsood to Rojava, “provided that local Kurdish protection and a council for the residents of the two neighborhoods are ensured.”
Comments
Rudaw moderates all comments submitted on our website. We welcome comments which are relevant to the article and encourage further discussion about the issues that matter to you. We also welcome constructive criticism about Rudaw.
To be approved for publication, however, your comments must meet our community guidelines.
We will not tolerate the following: profanity, threats, personal attacks, vulgarity, abuse (such as sexism, racism, homophobia or xenophobia), or commercial or personal promotion.
Comments that do not meet our guidelines will be rejected. Comments are not edited – they are either approved or rejected.
Post a comment