Ilham Ahmed issues message to residents of Sheikh Maqsoud, Ashrafieh, transitional govt. 

Following the attacks targeting the two neighborhoods, initial understandings were reached aimed at self-restraint and halting the assaults.

In a brief statement to ANHA agency, the co-chair of the Foreign Relations Department of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, Ilham Ahmed, explained that the Internal Security Forces in Aleppo are present to protect the residents, while factions affiliated with the transitional government have imposed a siege on the neighborhoods. She said, “The Public Security Forces (affiliated with the transitional government) in Aleppo claim that the Ministry of Defense is the one besieging the neighborhoods, but why are military forces besieging areas inhabited by civilians? What are their objectives?”

Ilham Ahmed reassured the residents of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh once again, urging them to stay in their homes, and said, “There is no intention to launch attacks against the neighborhoods, neither by the transitional government nor is there any escalation by the Internal Security Forces.”

She also pointed out that negotiations are ongoing to stabilize security and order through the implementation of the April 1 agreement concerning the city of Aleppo, affirming, “We are determined to implement it.”

Ilham Ahmed called on the transitional government in Syria to exercise restraint and halt the violations committed by its affiliated factions.

On December 22, Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh were subjected to a large-scale attack carried out by interim government factions from multiple directions using tanks and artillery, resulting in the death of a woman and injuries to 19 civilians, in addition to six members of the Internal Security Forces.

Despite the preliminary understandings reached after the attack to stop the assaults, the factions did not adhere seriously to the ceasefire, as the neighborhoods witnessed gunfire being fired over several areas today.

A-H 

ANHA