The Syrian army has reinforced positions east of Aleppo after state media reported new SDF movements near Maskana and Deir Hafer, including unverified claims of PKK involvement. The SDF denies deploying forces there, saying movements were largely civilian evacuations to aid the wounded. Government units carried out security sweeps and explosive-clearing operations as displaced residents began returning to Ashrafieh. Casualty figures vary: SANA cites 24 civilian deaths, while the Syrian Observatory reports higher fatalities.
Syrian Army Reinforces Eastern Aleppo Amid Reports Of New SDF Deployments
Members of Syrian general security forces stand guard in the Ashrafieh neighbourhood, after the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighters left the city of Aleppo on Sunday January 11, 2026 [Khalil Ashawi/Reuters]
The Syrian army has sent reinforcements into the rural eastern outskirts of Aleppo after state media reported additional Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) elements arriving near Maskana and Deir Hafer following days of fighting and the SDF’s withdrawal from parts of the city.
SANA broadcast footage on Monday showing army columns moving toward deployment lines east of Aleppo. The state agency quoted the Syrian Army Operations Authority as saying it had observed "the arrival of more armed groups to the deployment points of the SDF organisation in the eastern Aleppo countryside near Maskana and Deir Hafer." According to SANA’s intelligence sources, some reinforcements allegedly included fighters from the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
SANA quote: "We have observed the arrival of more armed groups to the deployment points of the SDF organisation in the eastern Aleppo countryside near Maskana and Deir Hafer."
The SDF denied the Defence Ministry’s accusations that it deployed formations to the Deir Hafer front. The SDF said it saw no unusual troop movements and described the gatherings observed in the area as largely civilian — people from northern and eastern Syria coming to receive the wounded from the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh neighbourhoods in Aleppo.
Security Operations And Returns
On Monday, government forces conducted security sweeps across parts of Aleppo. As some displaced residents began returning to Ashrafieh, army units worked to clear explosive devices and remove weapons in other districts. Residents inspecting Ashrafieh reported widespread damage, including shrapnel and broken glass.
Al Jazeera’s Bernard Smith reported that most people were returning to Ashrafieh and beginning to rebuild, while Sheikh Maqsoud remained the subject of active searches for explosives.
Searches For Detainees And Diplomatic Moves
Local reporting indicated Syrian forces were also looking for opposition prisoners believed to have been detained by SDF units during the conflict. U.S. envoy Tom Barrack met President Ahmed al-Sharaa on Saturday and urged a "return to dialogue" in line with an integration agreement.
Casualties And Conflicting Counts
Casualty figures for the recent clashes differ by source. Syrian health authorities, cited by SANA, said at least 24 civilians were killed and 129 wounded in attacks attributed to the SDF since last Tuesday. The U.K.-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported a higher toll, saying 45 civilians and roughly 60 combatants from both sides were killed in the clashes. These discrepancies reflect the difficulties of independent verification in active conflict zones.
Context: The developments mark another chapter in the contest for control in and around Aleppo, where shifting front lines and competing narratives from state and non-state actors continue to shape the humanitarian and security situation.
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