"Contradictory claims emerged after buses were seen evacuating people from Aleppo's Sheikh Maqsoud district on Saturday. The Syrian transitional government alleged that those seen leaving on the buses were Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighters, a claim the Kurdish-led force strongly denied. Footage shows the buses departing the neighbourhood, escorted by Syrian transitional government security vehicles. Crowds can also be heard chanting and waving flags of the First Syrian Republic. A government-affiliated television channel reported that 'SDF fighters were transported out of the Sheikh Maqsoud district', with local media suggesting they were moved to the city of Tabqa. The SDF denied its personnel had been evacuated, labeling the claim as a 'desperate attempt to mislead public opinion'. In a statement, the group said the footage shows “civilians who had been forcibly displaced and are victims of direct aggression.” State television had reported on Friday that buses had arrived on the edge of the neighborhood to prepare to transfer SDF fighters to northeastern Syria, before later claiming they had been withdrawn after being “targeted by machine gun fire from SDF-affiliated fighters.” The local council of the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyah districts issued a statement Saturday, stating ‘Kurdish residents and security personnel’ had been invited to surrender, but remained “determined to remain and defend their area.” Clashes erupted between the sides days ago, with each accusing the other of targeting civilians. This latest escalation comes just days after officials from both sides held a meeting to discuss implementing the March Agreement, following the expiration of its deadline. The meeting failed to produce results. On March 10, the head of Syria's transitional government, Ahmed al-Sharaa, and SDF commander Mazloum Abdi signed an agreement stipulating the 'integration of all civilian and military institutions affiliated with the Kurdish Autonomous Administration into the Syrian state' by the end of 2025. However, the agreement remains unimplemented, with sporadic clashes continuing. In December 2024, the current transitional government assumed power in Damascus, where Ahmed al-Sharaa was later appointed as transitional president, pledging to form an inclusive government. "