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As clashes escalate, the Syrian army redeploys to SDF fronts as they rise in northeast Syria

According to the Defence Ministry, tensions between the U.S. and Syrian Democratic Forces have increased.

The statement stressed that the move was not intended as a prelude to a military action but to prevent the Kurdish led group from launching repeated attacks or attempting to seize land.

Residents scattered their protests after witnesses reported that the army had sealed off two districts of Aleppo City under SDF control.

Residents reported rockets being fired by residents from the Kurdish districts into nearby residential areas.

A security source confirmed that one security officer had been killed in a recent attack on a border checkpoint. Kurdish fighters affiliated with the SDF claimed to have repelled a government attack. Two residents said that dozens of families were fleeing to safety from the two neighbourhoods.

SDF Calls for Lifting of SIEGE

Farhad Shami, a Kurdish SDF spokesman, accused factions of the Damascus regime of trying to enter two Kurdish districts in Aleppo using tanks.

He denied that SDF personnel targeted checkpoints and said the group did not have forces in Ashrafiya or Sheikh Maqsoud.

Farhad demanded the lifting of the siege he called, and warned that the actions of the government were a dangerous escalate that worsened the plight for local residents.

SDF raids have increased in several majority Arab towns that they control. They claim the raids are targeting Islamic State sleeper cell. The raids and a stepped-up campaign to recruit young people for military conscription have caused outrage among certain Arab tribal groups. They accuse the SDF, which denies the charge, of discrimination.

Officials said that U.S. Syria envoy Tom Barrack, and CENTCOM commander Admiral Brad Cooper met earlier with SDF Commander General Mazloum Abdul and senior officials in the northeast of Syria. The focus of the talks was on accelerating the implementation of March's agreement with Damascus.

In recent days, sporadic clashes intensified. Both Damascus as well as the SDF have accused each other of provocation.

Under U.S. sponsorship, the two sides signed a historic agreement in March for integrating Kurdish-led force into Syria's institutional framework by year's end. This included transferring control to Damascus of oil and gas fields, airports and border crossings. Implementation has been slow despite mutual accusations that it is stalling.

Washington also pressured the Kurds into accelerating negotiations with Damascus on terms that were acceptable to both parties. Turkey has also accused SDF of stalling, and warned that military action would be taken if they did not integrate with Syria's state apparatus. Reporting by Suleiman al-Khalidi Editing Bill Berkrot

(source: Reuters)