DAMASCUS, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- Syria's chief of defense authorities said Tuesday he met with Kurdish-led forces' commander Mazloum Abdi in Damascus and agreed to an immediate ceasefire across all fronts in northern and northeastern Syria, following a day of fierce clashes between government-aligned forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
In a brief statement, Marhaf Abu Qasra, chief of defense authorities, said that the meeting resulted in "a comprehensive ceasefire covering all axes and deployment points in northern and northeastern Syria, to be implemented immediately."
The ceasefire announcement came hours after heavy fighting shook the Kurdish-held neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyah in Aleppo, killing one security officer and wounding several others, according to defense authorities.
The war monitor Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said pro-government forces had earlier surrounded the two districts, using heavy and medium weapons in what it described as the most serious escalation since March.
Defense authorities said the recent troop movements were part of a planned redeployment aimed at "securing strategic points" following repeated SDF attacks on civilians, the army, and security forces. They stressed Damascus remains committed to the March 10 agreement with the SDF and had no intention of a broader offensive.
Aleppo Governor Azzam al-Gharib urged residents to stay indoors and said efforts were underway "to ensure this is the last night the city hears the sounds of clashes."
The SDF denied attacking government positions and accused Damascus-aligned groups of imposing "a suffocating siege" and provoking the confrontation. Enditem
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