The Syrian Arab Army engaged in violent clashes with Kurdistan Workers' Party militia stationed in Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood, Aleppo, after the failure of all negotiations, over the past 59 minutes through 7:16 PM UTC on Jan. 9, according to an X post by omar_alharir. The clashes follow a speech by the Commander of Internal Security in Aleppo Governorate to defectors from the Syrian Democratic Forces in Sheikh Maqsoud earlier at 6:16 PM UTC, as reported by Damas Post. A Syrian security source announced 100 SDF and Asayish fighters defected today in Aleppo, including the checkpoint commander in the neighborhood, per QalaatAlMudiq. Syrian Ministry of Defence operations continue in the area after destroying an SDF ammunition depot at 4:16 PM UTC, with humanitarian corridors open previously from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM UTC via Al-Awared, according to ministry statements shared by Qasemqt. Special sources informed Al-Watan of SDF commander Mazloum Abdi launching negotiations with the government on dissolving the SDF, reported earlier on Jan. 9.
