Syrian Army Advances East of Aleppo as Kurdish Forces Withdraw

Syrian government forces entered the town of Deir Hafer, about 50km east of Aleppo, after Kurdish-led SDF redeployed east of the Euphrates; Damascus says it has full control of Deir Hafer and has urged civilians to stay out of the area as mines are cleared, with thousands fleeing. The move follows US-mediated talks and comes amid President al-Sharaa's push to integrate Kurdish institutions and a decree recognizing Kurdish as a national language—welcomed by Kurds but described as insufficient without permanent constitutional guarantees. A US envoy and Mazloum Abdi were set to meet in Erbil to discuss redeployment.