Despite the recent success of the Syrian regime in capturing the opposition-held areas of eastern Aleppo, the regime does not completely control the city. Kurdish forces still control several neighbourhoods and reports indicate the attention of the regime shifted to these areas. Despite allegations about close coordination between Kurdish forces and the Syrian regime, days after capturing the city the regime demanded Kurdish forces retreat from the eastern pockets. Kurdish forces refused and instead swore to defend against any future attack. The question remains, will the Syrian regime launch an attack to control Aleppo city in its entirety?
The Syrian regime forces withdrew from Kurdish-held northern areas in the beginning of the uprising to focus on fighting rebel groups. A small contingent of soldiers oversaw regime bases there instead. Many believed that when the Syrian army left Kurdish-held areas, it was in coordination with the Democratic Union Party (PYD, the ruling party of the Kurdish territories) and was an attempt to keep the Kurds from joining the uprising.