Eastern Aleppo witnessed heightened military activity on Friday as United States Air Force F-15 fighter jets were spotted flying at low altitude over the region, coinciding with the redeployment of Syrian government forces into the towns of Deir Hafer and Maskana following the withdrawal of Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) units.

Statement to the Public Based on the internationally sponsored agreement, it was agreed that the Damascus government forces would enter the towns of Deir Hafer and Maskana, east of Aleppo, after our forces completed their withdrawal. However, Damascus violated the terms of the…

Displaced Syrians at a river crossing near the village of Jarirat al Imam, in the eastern Aleppo countryside, near the front line with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces in Deir Hafer, Syria, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Omar Albam)