QAMISHLI, Syria, Jan 17, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Syrian Kurdish leader Mazlum Abdi said his forces will withdraw to the east of the Euphrates River on Saturday, following violent clashes with Syrian government forces.

In a post on X, Abdi said on Friday that "based on calls from friendly countries and mediators... we have decided to withdraw our forces tomorrow morning at 7 am (0400 GMT)" east of Aleppo "towards redeployment in areas east of the Euphrates".