A Second Convoy of SDF Withdraws from Aleppo as Part of Agreement with Damascus
April 10, 2025, 12:44 pm

A Second Convoy of SDF Withdraws from Aleppo as Part of Agreement with Damascus

رتل ثانٍ لـ”قسد” ينسحب من حلب ضمن الاتفاق مع دمشق

On Wednesday, April 9, the city of Aleppo witnessed the departure of the second convoy belonging to the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) from the neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh in the northern part of the city, heading towards northeastern Syria.

A reporter from Enab Baladi in Aleppo reported that groups of SDF fighters, along with military units affiliated with them, set out from these neighborhoods. The convoy was accompanied by members of the Public Security and the Syrian Ministry of Defense as part of a step aimed at coordinating this withdrawal.

According to information obtained by the reporter from Public Security, the security forces will continue to accompany the convoy until reaching the city of Deir Hafer in eastern Aleppo. Aqeel Hussein, a member of public relations at Public Security, explained that the convoy consists of 480 personnel and 60 vehicles.

This step comes as part of an agreement signed on April 1 between representatives of the Ashrafiyeh and Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhoods, which have been under SDF control for about 10 years, and the Public Security of Aleppo.

The agreement included 14 main points, the most prominent of which are the gradual withdrawal of SDF forces from the two neighborhoods, the exchange of detainees between the two sides, and the release of prisons. The two parties also reached an agreement on fairly representing the two neighborhoods in the Aleppo City Council while preserving their cultural identity.

One of the initial measures to implement the agreement was the release of more than 200 detainees from both sides on April 3. On April 4, the first convoy left the neighborhoods, comprising around 500 fighters and heading to the Deir Hafer area, reaching northeastern Syria.

Additional batches of detainees from both sides are expected to continue to exit in the coming days as part of the ongoing implementation of the agreement.

Escalation of Israeli Attacks on Gaza Amid Efforts to Control Border Areas The Suffering of the Youth in the Tadamun Neighborhood: Forced Labor Under the Threat of Gunpoint

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has announced its sponsorship of the “Innovation and Sustainable Technology Solutions Competition (GU - IST Solutions), hosted by Gulf University at its main campus.
This strategic sponsorship reflects BENEFIT’s active role in advancing technological innovation and fostering sustainable solutions to future challenges. It also seeks to empower Bahraini youth by enhancing their skills, capabilities, and competitiveness in innovation and solution development—contributing meaningfully to the broader goals of sustainable development across all sectors.
As part of BENEFIT’s active involvement in the competition, the company has announced that Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager of Public Relations and Communication, will serve on the competition’s supervisory committee. Her upcoming participation reflects BENEFIT’s forward-looking commitment to championing academic and professional excellence.
Commenting on the occasion, Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager of Public Relations and Communication at BENEFIT, said, “We are privileged to support this pioneering initiative, which aligns seamlessly with BENEFIT’s enduring commitment to fostering innovation and nurturing the potential of Bahrain’s youth. Our participation is rooted in a deep sense of social responsibility and a firm belief in the pivotal role of innovation in shaping a sustainable future. Through such platforms, we seek to empower the next generation with the knowledge, skills, and foresight required to develop impactful solutions that address future challenges, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030.”
Dr. Aseel Al Ayash Dean of the College of Engineering in Gulf University commented, “We extend our sincere gratitude to BENEFIT for their generous sponsorship and support of the Innovation and Sustainable Technology Solutions Competition. This contribution plays an instrumental role in helping us achieve the strategic goals of this initiative, namely, cultivating a culture of innovation and sustainability, encouraging efforts that address the imperatives of sustainable development, and enhancing the practical and professional capabilities of our students and participants.”
The event will bring together a diverse spectrum of participants, including secondary school students, university undergraduates, engineers, industry professionals, entrepreneurs, academic researchers, and subject matter experts representing a wide range of disciplines.
The competition seeks to inspire participants to develop and present innovative, sustainable technologies aimed at addressing pressing environmental, social, and economic challenges. It encourages the formulation of business models that integrate advanced technological solutions with core principles of sustainability. Moreover, it serves as a platform for emerging leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators to contribute to the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals, promote the ethos of responsible technology, and demonstrate its transformative potential across various sectors.
Attendees will have the opportunity to view a series of project presentations submitted by participants, covering diverse areas such as eco-friendly product design, smart and sustainable innovations, renewable energy technologies, water conservation and management, waste minimisation and recycling, green architectural solutions, and sustainable transportation systems. Outstanding projects will be formally recognised and awarded at the conclusion of the event.