Kurdish militants refuse to withdraw from Aleppo neighborhoods

Kurdish militants in Aleppo’s Sheikh Maqsoud district have rejected a demand by Syrian authorities to withdraw from the area, the Armenian Gandzasar newspaper reports.

Buses belonging to Aleppo’s internal security forces, which had arrived in the district to transport Kurdish fighters to northeastern Syria, have returned.

The situation around Sheikh Maqsoud remains tense.

Earlier, Syria’s Ministry of Defense announced the establishment of a ceasefire in Aleppo.

“In order to prevent further escalation in residential areas, the Ministry of Defense declares a ceasefire in the vicinity of the Sheikh Maqsoud, Ashrafiyeh, and Bani Zaid neighborhoods of Aleppo, effective from 3:00 a.m.,” the statement said.

It was also noted that Kurdish armed groups had until Friday morning, 9:00 a.m., to leave the designated areas.