VIDEO: Syrian army says entering area east of Aleppo after Kurds agree to withdraw

• Syrian army enters eastern Aleppo: Forces move into Deir Hafer after Kurdish-led SDF agrees to withdraw, following recent clashes.
• Kurdish recognition and rights: President al-Sharaa declares Kurdish a national language, marking the first formal recognition of Kurdish rights since 1946.

Syria's army said Saturday its forces had started entering an area east of the city of Aleppo after Kurdish forces agreed to withdraw from the region following recent clashes. In a statement carried by state television, the army said its forces "began entering the western Euphrates area, starting with the town of Deir Hafer."

An AFP correspondent saw army forces advancing towards the area, including with tanks. The military urged civilians "not to enter the operations area" until it had been secured and "cleared of all mines and war remnants."

Kurdish Withdrawal After Clashes

After driving out Kurdish forces from Aleppo city last week following deadly clashes, Syria's army deployed reinforcements near Deir Hafer and told the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to evacuate the area between the town and the Euphrates River, about 30 kilometres (18 miles) further east.

Kurdish Leader Agrees to Redeploy

On Friday, Kurdish leader Mazloum Abdi committed to withdrawing his US-backed, Kurdish-led SDF on Saturday morning "towards redeployment in areas east of the Euphrates," following "calls from friendly countries and mediators." The defence ministry welcomed Abdi's announcement, confirming army troops would move in after the SDF withdrawal.

Civilians Evacuate Deir Hafer

The Syrian army had urged civilians to leave the Deir Hafer area in recent days, with at least 4,000 people departing according to Syrian authorities.

Syria Recognizes Kurdish Language

On Friday, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa issued a decree declaring Kurdish a "national language," an apparent gesture of goodwill towards the minority after recent violence. This marks the first formal recognition of Kurdish national rights since Syria's independence in 1946.

Kurdish Rights and Integration

The decree stated that Kurds are "an essential and integral part" of Syria, where they have endured decades of marginalization. It allows Kurdish to be taught in public schools in areas where the community is heavily present.

Kurds’ Control of Northern Syria

Kurdish forces control large swathes of Syria’s oil-rich north and northeast, much of which they captured during the civil war and the fight against the Islamic State group over the past decade. Progress on implementing a March deal to integrate the Kurds’ autonomous administration into the state has stalled.