Reuters
—
As the clashes entered their third day, the Syrian army launched new attacks on parts of Aleppo on Thursday after ordering residents to evacuate and accusing the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) of using Kurdish-majority areas for attacks.
The military released at least seven maps identifying areas targeted for attack and urged residents to leave immediately for their own safety. The operational command announced a curfew in the Sheikh Maqsood and Ashrafieh neighborhoods from 3pm local time.
The fighting that broke out on Tuesday forced thousands of civilians to flee their homes and left several dead and injured.
Faisal Ali, head of operations for the Syrian Civil Defense Forces in Aleppo, said: “As of this moment today, around 13,500 people have left. Most of the cases we have confirmed are women, children and people with special needs. Some patients were evacuated to hospitals and some patients were treated in ambulances.”
The SDF said SDF fighters engaged in violent clashes with Damascus-aligned factions and auxiliary forces near the Syrian neighborhood of Aleppo, adding that they caused what they said were heavy losses.
The violence and conflicting claims of responsibility highlight the increasingly serious and increasingly deadly conflict between Damascus and Kurdish authorities, which have resisted integration into the central government.
Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister Masrour Barzani said he was deeply concerned about the attacks on Kurdish areas in Aleppo, warning that targeting civilians and attempting to change the region’s demographics amounted to what he called ethnic cleansing.
President Barzani called on all sides to exercise restraint, protect civilians and pursue dialogue.
The SDF accused the Damascus allies of threatening illegal attacks on civilian areas and said public threats of shelling could amount to displacement and war crimes under international humanitarian law.
More residents were seen leaving Sheikh Maqsood and Ashrafi through designated safe passages.
The SDF is a U.S.-backed alliance that controls much of northeastern Syria and is America’s main local partner in the fight against Islamic State.
Kurdish-led authorities established semi-autonomous governments in these areas and parts of Aleppo during Syria’s 14-year war, but have resisted full integration into the Islamist-led government that took power after former President Bashar al-Assad was ousted in late 2024.
Damascus last year reached an agreement with the SDF that envisages full integration by the end of 2025, but progress has been limited, with both sides accusing the other of stagnation.
The United States sought to mediate, holding talks as recently as Sunday, but the talks ended without any concrete results.
Diplomats have warned that failing to integrate the SDF into the Syrian army risks further violence and could draw in Turkey, which has threatened military action against Kurdish fighters it considers terrorists.
Turkey said on Thursday it was ready to assist Syria if requested, after the Syrian army launched its own so-called “counterterrorism” operation in Aleppo.
