The Syrian government on Saturday said its troops have taken control of several key towns near the northern city of Aleppo from Kurdish-led forces under a withdrawal agreement that each side accused the other of violating.

US Senator demands accountability after alleged human rights violations by Syrian forces against Kurdish civilians in Aleppo amid ongoing conflict.

Despite the long-running U.S. support for the SDF, the Trump administration has also developed close ties with the government of interim Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa and has so far avoided publicly taking sides in the clashes in Aleppo.

Deir al-Zour has been described as the most heavily damaged city in Syria by U.N.-Habitat. Traffic weaves past craters and around mounds of rubble. Children play in the ruins beneath great slabs of concrete hanging perilously from buildings. Dust clogs the air.