ALEPPO (HRNW) – Intense fighting has erupted in northern Syria as Syrian government forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) engage in a series of violent confrontations in the city of Aleppo. The clashes, which centered on the Kurdish-majority neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud and Al-Ashrafiyah, have reportedly left at least 12 people dead, including seven civilians. Heavy weaponry, including artillery, tanks, and drones, has been deployed by both sides, transforming once-stable residential areas into active combat zones.
The Syrian military has declared these districts “closed military zones” and imposed a strict 24-hour curfew, forcing thousands of residents to flee through designated humanitarian corridors. According to UN agencies, between 30,000 and 45,000 individuals have been displaced, seeking refuge in the surrounding countryside and the Afrin district. The violence has severely impacted local infrastructure; several major hospitals have ceased operations, and Aleppo International Airport has suspended all flights as shelling continues to target strategic points across the city.
Human rights observers warn that the escalation stems from the breakdown of the March 2025 integration agreement, which aimed to merge the SDF into the national army. With trust at an all-time low and regional tensions rising, there are growing fears that the conflict could expand into a wider regional war. International bodies are calling for an immediate de-escalation to prevent a total humanitarian collapse in northern Syria.
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