The Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) welcomed an international mediating powers' offer to reposition forces from Sheikh Maqsud and Ashrafieh neighborhoods east of the Euphrates between 10:46 PM and 11:16 PM UTC on January 9, prioritizing civilian protection while ensuring local Kurdish security and a residents' council per the April 1 agreement, according to statements posted on X by ElhamAhmadSDC and NotWoofers. AANES confirmed in the statement that protecting civilians in the two Aleppo neighborhoods is a top priority and specified conditions for the safe repositioning of Asayish security forces. The announcement follows Syrian Arab Army combing operations and advances into Sheikh Maqsud reported in the prior half hour through 10:46 PM UTC, per previous statements from the Syrian Ministry of Defence. SyrianFactCheck reported on X during this 29-minute period that SDF reinforcements, including armored vehicles, missile launchers, and drone operators, departed Deir ez-Zor and Raqqa toward Deir Hafer amid pressure to open a front against the Syrian army, noting increased marches and artillery activity there. An X post by ivarmm stated specific operations targeted SDF militia in response to attacks on civilians in Aleppo during this window.
