Aleppo authorities said security conditions continued to improve after several days of attacks and violations attributed to PKK-aligned militias and Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) forces in the city. The Aleppo governorate confirmed that the last buses carrying SDF fighters departed the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood late Sunday night under government and Internal Security supervision.
SANA reported that over 400 fighters left the area in coordinated convoys accompanied by Syrian Arab Red Crescent vehicles, heading toward northeastern Syria. A source in the Interior Ministry told Agence France-Presse that the evacuation included 360 fighters and 59 wounded. Governor Azzam al-Gharib said the withdrawal marked a turning point, stating on the X platform that “the chapter of anxiety has been closed, and Aleppo is safe again.”
Weapons, Tunnels and Drones Uncovered
As security forces moved in, Interior Ministry engineering teams uncovered extensive weapons caches and explosive materials left behind in Sheikh Maqsoud and nearby neighborhoods. The ministry said units dismantled booby-trapped vehicles, suicide drones and explosive devices planted inside civilian homes and along roads. A booby-trapped motorcycle was also neutralized in the Suryan area, while a missile rigged with explosives was safely detonated without casualties.
Internal Security Forces seized warehouses containing landmines, shells, missiles and large quantities of ammunition, which officials said posed a direct threat to public safety. The Ministry of Emergency and Disaster Management warned residents to avoid unidentified objects and former SDF positions due to the risk of unexploded ordnance.
Water Supply Restored After Disruption
Authorities also confirmed the restoration of Aleppo’s main water supply after a brief but widespread cutoff. Energy Minister Muhammad al-Bashir said pumping resumed at the Babiri station in eastern Aleppo countryside after SDF-affiliated elements had halted operations Saturday. The Ministry of Energy said the station supplies Aleppo city and its countryside and held the SDF responsible for what it described as a deliberate disruption affecting millions of civilians.
Separately, the Syrian Army Operations Authority said it detected SDF military movements in the Deir Hafer area and confirmed that drones had been launched from the area toward Aleppo, including a suicide drone that struck near the governorate building.
Civilian Return and Government Control
With fighting halted, residents began returning to Ashrafieh and surrounding neighborhoods. Aleppo’s deputy governor told Syria TV that displaced families were resuming daily life as government institutions reentered to restore services. Engineering teams continued clearing mines in Sheikh Maqsoud to ensure safe returns.
Military police and internal security units deployed across the area to prevent violations and protect property. The Health Directorate reported 153 casualties over five days of shelling, including 24 killed and 129 wounded.
Governor Gharib urged residents to avoid public gatherings for now and to follow official instructions. “Aleppo is safe, by God’s grace and the awareness of its people,” he said, adding that stability would continue as procedures are completed.
