1 Syrian soldier killed, others injured in SDF attacks in Aleppo despite ceasefire: Defense Ministry

By Betul Yilmaz

ISTANBUL (AA) – A Syrian soldier was killed and others were injured in attacks by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Aleppo in northern Syria on Thursday, in violation of a ceasefire agreement, the Defense Ministry said.

A statement by the ministry’s Media and Communications Directorate cited by the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) said that SDF forces attacked army positions near Tishrin Dam in eastern Aleppo.

The ministry accused the SDF of violating the ceasefire agreement more than 10 times in less than 48 hours and attacking army positions along the deployment lines in eastern Aleppo.

“The SDF continues fortification and entrenchment operations along all axes, and we have monitored calls inciting actions against the army and security forces in Aleppo,” it said.

On Monday, Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra and SDF Commander Mazloum Abdi agreed to an immediate ceasefire in northern and northeastern Syria following armed clashes in the Al-Ashrafiyah and Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhoods in Aleppo.

The SDF is dominated by the terrorist group YPG, the Syrian branch of the terrorist PKK.

On March 10, the Syrian presidency announced an agreement to integrate the SDF into state institutions, stressing the country’s territorial integrity and rejecting any separatist designs. The group, however, has violated the agreement more than once.