Thousands of people have fled the eastern areas surrounding Aleppo as they seek to escape further fighting between government troops and the predominantly Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), authorities said on Friday.

Officials said around 4,000 people have left the towns of Deir Hafir and Maskana.

Heavy fighting broke out last week in Kurdish-controlled districts of Aleppo amid a dispute over plans to integrate the previously autonomous Kurdish administrations into the state system.

The transitional government eventually brought the Kurdish neighbourhoods of Aleppo under its control.

Government forces are now seeking to push SDF fighters further east, where they still control large parts of the country.

During Syria’s civil war, the SDF was regarded as the United States’ most important ally in the fight against Islamic State.

An agreement on integrating the SDF into the state armed forces following the overthrow of long-time ruler Bashar al-Assad has so far not been implemented.

The government announced a “humanitarian corridor” for several towns east of Aleppo to allow civilians to leave by Friday afternoon.

According to eyewitnesses who spoke to a dpa reporter on the ground, SDF fighters prevented people from leaving the areas in some cases.

The transitional government under President Ahmed al-Sharaa accuses the SDF of tolerating Assad loyalists and members of the banned Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) within its ranks.

Kurdish representatives, in turn, distrust assurances by al-Sharaa, the former leader of the Islamist group HTS, that their rights will be protected. They also warn of a possible resurgence of Islamic State.

SOURCE: DPA AND AGENCIES