Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Syrian government forces had started to enter the al-Halak, Bani Zaid and Bustan al-Basha neighborhoods in the district of Aleppo.

Witnesses in the city also said the government forces and workers for state institutions had entered the neighborhoods in Aleppo, Reuters reported.

YPG spokesman Nouri Mahmoud denied that any government forces or institutions had gone into the zone under their control, according to Reuters.

The YPG has controlled an enclave in the northern districts of Aleppo for several years.

The rest of the city has been in the hands of the Syrian army since it drove rebels from other neighborhoods in late 2016 with Russia and Iran’s help, Reuters reported.

The reports came after pro-Syrian government forces entered the region of Afrin on Tuesday to help the Kurdish forces against Turkey’s offensive.

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