The Military Operations Authority of the Syrian Army declared Maskanah and Deir Hafer in the eastern countryside of Aleppo a closed military zone as of January 13, 2026, calling on civilians to stay away from SDF sites in the area for their safety, according to Al Jazeera Arabic and Verify Syria reports published between 9:16 AM and 9:45 AM UTC. The Commission marked the area in red on a map and emphasized the national responsibility to protect public safety, as stated in announcements shared during the 29-minute reporting window. Verify Syria referenced an army warning regarding SDF positions. Separately, the Criminal Investigation Branch in Damascus Governorate announced the arrest of two suspects identified as “T.H.” and “Q.Y.” for stealing antique weapons from the National Museum in Damascus, according to the Syrian Ministry of Interior on X at 9:16 AM UTC.
