According to official statements, the truce took effect at 03:00 local time and applied to the Sheikh Maksoud, Ashrafieh, and Beni Zeyd neighborhoods, areas that have seen sustained clashes between government-aligned forces and the SDF terrorist group. The ceasefire was explicitly conditioned on the withdrawal of SDF elements by 09:00, creating a six-hour window that framed the announcement less as mediation than as an enforcement mechanism.

The Ministry of Defense said the ceasefire was declared “to prevent a new military escalation” after control had been established in the three districts. The announcement followed days of intensified fighting that began after integration talks between Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and the SDF stalled, triggering a Syrian army operation against SDF positions. The ministry emphasized that the measure was temporary and geographically limited, applying only to the listed neighborhoods in northwest Aleppo.

“Withdraw by 09:00”

In its written statement, the transitional government specified strict terms for the withdrawal. “Armed individuals will only be allowed to carry light personal weapons,” the statement said, adding that “safe passage will be provided by the Syrian army, allowing their exit toward the country’s northeastern regions.” The timeline was precise: withdrawal was required between 03:00 and 09:00, a six-hour duration that left little margin for negotiation or delay.

Hamza al-Mustafa, the Information Minister of the HTS-led transitional government, reinforced the message in a separate statement. “The Ministry of Defense announced that military operations had ended and that a ceasefire had been declared,” he said. He added that “SDF militants must withdraw from Sheikh Maksoud and Ashrafieh neighborhoods toward the northeast by 9 a.m., with their personal weapons.” According to al-Mustafa, “security and stability have returned to the major city of Aleppo,” allowing displaced residents to return “in a dignified and safe manner.”

Neighborhood-Level Escalation Control

The focus on Sheikh Maksoud, Ashrafieh, and Beni Zeyd highlights the neighborhood-by-neighborhood nature of the confrontation. These districts, some with dense civilian populations, became focal points after the Syrian army intensified operations following the collapse of integration talks. The Defense Ministry stated that control had been secured in all three areas before the ceasefire took effect at 03:00, framing the truce as a consolidation phase rather than a concession.

The announcement was reiterated in multiple official channels, underscoring its importance. The Defense Ministry’s written statement repeated that the ceasefire was temporary and designed to “prevent a new military escalation” around the three neighborhoods. No reference was made to third-party mediation, monitoring mechanisms, or reciprocal commitments from the SDF, reinforcing the unilateral character of the move.