Latest in Aleppo: Withdrawal of Syrian Forces and Rising Tensions with Kurdish Forces
December 1, 2024, 11:49 am

Latest in Aleppo: Withdrawal of Syrian Forces and Rising Tensions with Kurdish Forces

انسحاب قوات النظام السوري وارتفاع التوتر مع قوات قسد

The withdrawal of Syrian forces from the city of Aleppo in northern Syria coincided with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and several armed factions taking control of the city, prompting Turkish security sources to issue warnings regarding the intentions of Kurdish forces.

The sources indicated that the withdrawal of Syrian government troops from areas they controlled in the north could be viewed as an opportunity for Kurdish forces to advance. Statements issued on Sunday noted that armed members of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), supported by the United States, see this withdrawal as a chance to implement a plan to establish a corridor between Tal Rifaat (northwest of Aleppo) and the northeastern region of Syria, according to Reuters.

In this context, Turkish sources confirmed that the "Syrian National Army," which comprises armed factions supported by Turkey, had managed to cut the road linking Raqqa and Aleppo.

Additionally, the Syrian military had previously explained that the multiplicity of fronts and continued fighting prompted it to withdraw some units from Aleppo to reposition and better distribute its forces, while reaffirming its commitment to send more reinforcements towards Hama and other areas to repel attacks from militants.

On another note, the SDF recently attempted to seize control of Aleppo Airport to bolster its position in any future negotiations; however, this effort was reported to have failed according to local sources.

It is worth noting that the Kurdish community in Aleppo is concentrated in the neighborhoods of Ashrafiyeh and Sheikh Maqsoud, which have not been infiltrated by armed factions despite their near-total control of the city.

These developments follow the successful takeover of Aleppo by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and armed factions, along with several villages in Hama and most of the Idlib region, in an unprecedented surprise attack since the start of the Syrian war. This has raised concerns for Russia and Iran, supporters of the Damascus regime, as well as Turkey, which has confirmed its lack of involvement in this armed assault.

Jerusalem Post: Aleppo Approaches Transition to Syrian Opposition The stronghold of the regime in Aleppo is under the control of the Syrian opposition

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”