New prisoner swap in Aleppo

As part of the agreement between the General Council of the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh neighborhoods and the Damascus authorities aimed at “clearing the prisons,” both parties today released 293 prisoners and 176 members affiliated with the Damascus authorities as the second phase of the exchange process.

The agreement, signed on April 1, 2025, addresses the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh neighborhoods and consists of 14 key points. These include strengthening coexistence, protecting civilians, preventing armed appearances, and organizing internal security. It also calls for the formation of committees to implement the terms and facilitate movement and transportation.

Article 12 of the agreement stipulates: "Clearing the prisons by both parties in Aleppo Governorate and exchanging all prisoners detained after the liberation."

The first phase of the exchange was implemented on April 3, during which 146 prisoners and 97 members affiliated with the Damascus authorities were released.

An exchange was initially scheduled for May 28 but was postponed to today due to several obstacles, foremost among them the Damascus authorities’ refusal to release female fighters from the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ).

The process resumed after the recent meeting held on Sunday, June 1, between the delegation from the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria and the Damascus authorities in the capital. One of the meeting's outcomes was: “Reactivating the file of the Ashrafieh and Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhoods and working to resolve it in a manner that serves stability and civil peace.”

Both sides reached an agreement today that paved the way for carrying out the second batch of the prisoner exchange. The exchange took place at the Al-Jazeera crossing, located at the southern edge of Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood, leading to the rest of Aleppo city.

The total number of exchanged prisoners between the two sides has now reached approximately 469 people, including 293 fighters, female fighters, and civilians affiliated with the General Council of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh, and 176 members affiliated with the Damascus authorities.

The exchange ceremony was held in Aleppo in the presence of many families of the prisoners from both sides, along with dozens of local residents.

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ANHA