The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Syrian government resumed the second phase of a prisoner exchange operation on Monday in the northern city of Aleppo, under an agreement reached in April aimed at gradually clearing detention facilities.

According to local sources, the exchange took place at 4:00 p.m. and resulted in the release of 293 individuals by the Syrian government, including civilians and members of the SDF’s all-female Women’s Protection Units (YPJ). In return, the SDF freed 176 personnel affiliated with the Syrian Ministry of Defense.

The operation was carried out under tight security and heightened alert in the Kurdish-majority neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh, where logistical coordination between the two sides was observed.

Officials indicated that further phases of the agreement will follow at an accelerated pace, in a bid to reduce tensions and restore channels of communication between Damascus and the SDF in northern Syria.