Name: Civilians flee Kurdish-held region in northern Syria ahead of army deadline
Uploaded: 2026-01-16T15:35:04.483Z
Duration: 1 min 36 s
Description: Civilians fled a Kurdish-held region of northern Syria on Friday before a deadline set by the army, which seeks to expand its control over the area after driving Kurdish forces from Aleppo. The government is seeking to extend its authority nationwide following the ousting of longtime leader Bashar al-Assad in December 2024.

Civilians fled a Kurdish-held region of northern Syria on Friday before a deadline set by the army, which seeks to expand its control over the area after driving Kurdish forces from Aleppo. The government is seeking to extend its authority nationwide following the ousting of longtime leader Bashar al-Assad in December 2024.

Dayr Hafir

Kurdish Syrians are fleeing areas east of Aleppo, including Deir Hafer, as the Syrian army brings in reinforcements and sets deadlines for the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to withdraw east of the Euphrates River. Humanitarian organizations estimate that tens of thousands have been displaced in recent weeks, with children making up half of those affected. 

Many civilians face difficulties reaching safety due to closed roads and SDF roadblocks. Despite a ceasefire, recent fighting in Aleppo resulted in dozens of deaths and over 150,000 people fleeing as government forces regained control of SDF-held areas. The SDF continues to resist integration into Syria's new government, and international officials express concern about the potential for further violence.

Civilians flee Kurdish-held region in northern Syria ahead of army deadline

Loading up what little they have in trucks, these Kurdish Syrians are leaving a place that could soon become a war zone. Fears of escalating violence between the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces and the government have forced tens of thousands from their homes in recent weeks, and humanitarian groups estimate that half of the displaced are children. Many are now seeking refuge in government shelters outside of territory run by the SDF, but getting there hasn't been easy. The main road is closed. It's forbidden to pass. The SDF has blocked the road with rocks. We've been waiting since 7 a.m. and people are just sitting on the road. No one will let us out. Kurdish civilians are now trying to flee an area east of Aleppo, near a place called Deir Hafer, where the Syrian army has brought in reinforcements to push the SDF east of the Euphrates River. The SDF still controls territory in the northeast and has resisted efforts to be integrated into Syria's new government, run by President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who took over after the fall of Bashar al-Assad in 2024. Turkey's foreign minister said on Thursday he hoped the conflict could be resolved peacefully, but understood that might not be possible. The use of force by the Syrian government, when necessary, is no longer an abnormal occurrence, because as you can see, there is no other option left. Despite a ceasefire, fighting in Aleppo last week was said to have killed dozens of people. More than 150,000 fled as the Syrian army reached a control of two pockets of the city that had been held by the SDF since the start of Syria's civil war in 2011.

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