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Kurdish councils in Syria's Aleppo reject evacuation call

AL-Monitor
Jan 9, 2026
Security forces affiliated with the Ministry of the Interior stand guard in the Ashrafieh neighbourhood, which they have taken control of, according to the Ministry of the Interior, following battles with the Syrian Democratic Forces, in Aleppo, Syria, January 9, 2026. REUTERS/Karam al-Masri
Security forces affiliated with the Ministry of the Interior stand guard in the Ashrafieh neighbourhood, which they have taken control of, according to the Ministry of the Interior, following battles with the Syrian Democratic Forces, in Aleppo, Syria, January 9, 2026. REUTERS/Karam al-Masri — KARAM ALMASRI

Jan 9 (Reuters) - Kurdish councils in Syria's Aleppo said on Friday they would not evacuate neighbourhoods under their control as part of a ceasefire deal to end days of fighting between Kurdish forces and Syrian government fighters.

In a statement published by Syrian Kurdish outlets, the local councils of the Ashrafiyah and Sheikh Maksoud districts said calls to leave Aleppo were "a call to surrender" and that Kurdish forces would instead "defend their neighbourhoods".

(Reporting by Orhan Qereman; Writing by Maya Gebeily; Editing by Alison Williams)