Damascus, January 07 (QNA) - The Syrian Ministry of Defense, on Wednesday, granted a deadline to civilians in Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh districts of Aleppo to evacuate the neighborhoods.

It provided two secure humanitarian corridors for the displaced to exit, while affirming that the strongholds of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) within the two districts constitute military zones, as part of measures aimed at shielding the population and controlling the security situation.

The move came following offensives carried out by SDF forces in those districts on Tuesday, which included shelling with projectiles and drones targeting residential areas of Aleppo, resulting in the killing of approximately five civilians and wounding more than thirty others with varying injuries.

Consequently, the areas surrounding the districts were gripped by exchanges of fire and shelling, where units of the Syrian military conducted precision strikes on the sources of fire, concomitantly with repeated calls urging civilians to distance themselves from flashpoint zones.

Meanwhile, a massive exodus of families was seen moving toward more secure areas in the city, with paramedics and authoritative agencies engaging in evacuating the injured and securing the humanitarian corridors, as well as the shelter centers.

The Syrian government emphasized that it would continue to take further action to protect civilians and maintain security in Aleppo city. (QNA)