The last Kurdish fighters have left the Syrian city of Aleppo after a ceasefire deal was reached early Sunday morning. Mazloum Abdi, leader of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), confirmed an agreement through international mediation. This deal secured the safe evacuation of “martyrs, the wounded, the trapped civilians and the fighters” from the city. Local media reported buses carrying the final SDF members leaving the Kurdish-majority Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood. Clashes erupted earlier this week after talks to integrate Kurds into Syria’s government broke down. At least 12 people died, and tens of thousands fled areas like Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh due to violence. The Syrian army shelled these neighborhoods after declaring them “closed military areas,” alleging attacks from armed groups there. The Kurdish SDF denied having a military presence in Aleppo and called the shelling a “criminal attempt” to force residents out. A ceasefire was proposed earlier but Kurdish forces initially refused to leave Sheikh Maqsoud. In March 2025, the SDF signed a deal to fully join Syria's military and civilian institutions, but progress stalled with both sides blaming each other. The latest ceasefire was mediated by the US and global powers to avoid Turkish involvement. Turkey supports the Syrian government and views the SDF militia as a terrorist group. On Saturday, US envoy Tom Barrack met Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, urging all parties to “exercise maximum restraint, immediately cease hostilities, and return to dialogue.” He praised Syria's “historic transition” and pledged US support for the country's stabilization efforts.