Clock Ticks in Eastern Aleppo as Syria Opens Corridor, Signals Possible SDF Push

The Syrian Arab Army announced Thursday it will open a humanitarian corridor for civilians to leave parts of eastern Aleppo countryside that Damascus has declared a “closed military zone,” as tensions rise with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) west of the Euphrates.

In a statement from its operations command, the army urged residents to evacuate between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. via the M15 highway connecting Deir Hafer to Aleppo. Evacuations would pass through the village of Hamime, which the army described as a secured crossing point.

The corridor follows Tuesday’s decision to classify a broad strip from Deir Hafer toward the Euphrates riverbank near Maskanah as a restricted military area. The command said operations would begin after the civilian window closes and called on residents to keep away from SDF positions.

The eastern Aleppo countryside has seen mutual troop buildups and exchanges of fire in recent days, with both sides trading accusations over artillery and drone attacks. The army said it stopped an alleged SDF attempt to plant explosives on a bridge between Rasm al‑Imam and Rasm al‑Karu. Field reports also described government reinforcements arriving from Syria’s coast and from the central desert axis, an apparent effort to tighten pressure from more than one direction.

The latest escalation comes days after Damascus consolidated control over Aleppo city’s Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh neighborhoods following a three‑day battle that ended with the withdrawal of SDF‑linked Internal Security (Asayish) units toward northeastern Syria. The fighting highlighted the strain on earlier understandings—particularly an April 1 withdrawal arrangement and the March 10 national framework aimed at integration and expanded state access to the northeast.

International actors are urging restraint. US Central Command has called on all parties to return to negotiations, while Kurdish sources cited by regional media say Washington pressed SDF commander Mazloum Abdi to avoid confrontation. Autonomous Administration official Ilham Ahmed has blamed Damascus for failing to implement the March 10 agreement, but says her side still favors dialogue.

Analysts say Turkey is watching closely; some report Turkish drones hit SDF units near Maskanah’s sugar factory, as Ankara seeks to end SDF presence west of the river.

Photo: Syria Tv