Major Unrest in Syria
Thosands Flee Aleppo as Violence Escalates
As tensions erupt in Aleppo, Syrian government forces unleash relentless shelling on Kurdish-held neighborhoods, forcing tens of thousands to flee amid a suffocating siege and mounting civilian casualties. Israeli condemnation highlights the betrayal of Syria's 'new era' promises, urging global action to halt the escalating ethnic violence and humanitarian disaster in Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh.
Heavy clashes between Syrian government forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have entered their third day in Aleppo's northern neighborhoods, prompting tens of thousands of residents, many from Kurdish communities, to flee amid intense shelling and a tightening siege.
Reports indicate at least 12 people have been killed, including civilians, with dozens more wounded as artillery, rockets, mortars, and drones target densely populated areas in Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh.
The violence erupted on January 6 following stalled U.S.-mediated negotiations over the integration of the SDF into Syria's national army, as per a March 2025 agreement that remains unfulfilled.
Syrian government forces, under interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa (formerly known as Abu Mohammad al-Jolani of Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham), declared the neighborhoods "closed military zones" and imposed a curfew starting at 1:30 p.m. local time on January 7, urging civilians to evacuate via designated humanitarian corridors such as Al-Awarid and Al-Zuhour streets.
By January 8, the Syrian army announced targeted operations against SDF positions, including in nearby Bani Zaid, while denying any full-scale advance and claiming to secure civilian exits.
Eyewitness accounts and social media footage show families fleeing with belongings and livestock, amid sounds of gunfire and explosions.
Residents report intensified nighttime bombardments, power outages, and restrictions on food and medical supplies, exacerbating a humanitarian crisis in these besieged enclaves.
The SDF accuses government forces of imposing a "suffocating siege" and using heavy weapons like tanks and armored vehicles to target civilian infrastructure, failing to advance on key fronts and instead escalating pressure on populated areas.
In contrast, Damascus claims the SDF initiated attacks, using snipers and mortars on government-held areas, killing soldiers and civilians, and targeting evacuating residents to use them as human shields.
Casualty figures remain contested: SDF sources report at least eight civilians killed and 57 wounded from the bombardments, including women and children.
Government media cites three civilians and one soldier killed in SDF attacks, with broader reports indicating up to 12 deaths over the two days.
The UN has expressed alarm over civilian casualties and called for immediate de-escalation and protection of non-combatants, urging a return to dialogue.
The SDF, which withdrew heavy weapons from these areas in April 2025 as part of the integration deal but maintains light security forces (Asayish), vows to defend the neighborhoods as "fortresses of steadfastness."
Pro-government voices, including state media, label SDF actions as terrorism and frame the operations as necessary to restore security.
Independent observers note intermittent clashes in these flashpoint areas for months, highlighting deeper ethnic and governance tensions in post-Assad Syria.
The escalating conflict has drawn international scrutiny, with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar condemning the Syrian attacks on Aleppo’s Kurds as “serious and dangerous.” In a statement, Sa’ar emphasized that “the international community owes a debt of honor to the Kurds who fought fiercely and successfully against ISIS. The systematic and murderous oppression of the various minorities in Syria contradicts the promises of a new Syria. Silence on the part of the international community will lead to an escalation of violence by the Syrian regime.”
This marks one of the few public rebukes from a foreign government amid the violence, as Israel engages in separate security talks with Damascus.
This flare-up risks further destabilizing the region, potentially involving external actors like the U.S., which backs the SDF, and Turkey, which influences former HTS elements.
As evacuations continue with civil defense assistance, the Aleppo airport remains closed, and highways are blocked, amplifying the humanitarian impact on a city still recovering from years of civil war.