Syrian government forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces agreed to de-escalate in the northern city of Aleppo, after a series of clashes that left at least four civilians dead, according to state media.
The army's general command issued an order to stop targeting the SDF, state news agency Sana reported, quoting the Defence Ministry. The SDF said in a statement later that it had issued instructions to stop responding to fire by Syrian government forces following de-escalation efforts.
State-run Al Ekhbariya TV quoted a health official in Aleppo as saying that at least four people were killed and several were wounded in SDF shelling of residential neighbourhoods. The Syrian Health Ministry had earlier put the death toll at two. The SDF said at least five people were injured in shelling by government forces.
The violence started hours after Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said during a visit to Damascus that the SDF appeared to have no intention of honouring a commitment to integrate into the state's armed forces by the agreed year-end deadline.
Turkey views the US-backed SDF, which controls parts of north-eastern Syria, as a terrorist organisation and has threated military action if the group does not honour the agreement.
Speaking at a joint press conference after talks with his Turkish counterpart, Syria's Foreign Minister Asaad Al Shibani said any delay in integrating the SDF would harm the areas it controls and hinder reconstruction. Mr Al Shibani said the government has not seen any serious initiative or will from the SDF to put the March 10 agreement to integrate into Syria's state apparatus into practice.
“We received a response yesterday from the Syrian Democratic Forces regarding the implementation of the March 10 agreement, and we are currently reviewing this response,” he said.
The agreement signed by SDF leader Mazloum Abdi and Syrian President Ahmad Al Shara called for Kurdish integration into the central military and civilian authorities by the end of this year.
Earlier, state media, quoting the Defence Ministry, reported that the SDF had launched a sudden attack on security forces and the army in the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyah neighbourhoods of Aleppo, resulting in injuries.
The SDF denied this and said the attack was carried out by factions affiliated with the Syrian government. It said those factions were using tanks and artillery against residential neighbourhoods in the city. The Defence Ministry denied the SDF's statements.
Aleppo's governor announced a temporary suspension of attendance in all public and private schools and universities on Tuesday, as well as government offices within the city centre.
In October, Syria announced a comprehensive ceasefire with Kurdish forces following deadly clashes in the districts.
