The leader of Kurdish-led forces in Syria announced Friday that they will withdraw from a contested area in northern Syria, potentially heading off a major clash with government forces.

President Ahmed al-Sharaa repeated calls on Wednesday for Syria's Kurds to integrate into the state, as the army deployed reinforcements near a Kurdish-held area east of Aleppo following deadly clashes in the city.

Syria's military has announced it will open a "humanitarian corridor" for civilians to evacuate from an area in Aleppo province.