Civilians fled Kurdish neighborhoods in Aleppo on Wednesday after the Syrian army declared them “closed military zones” amidst intensified fighting with Kurdish-led forces. The clashes, which erupted on Tuesday, are being described as the most severe between the two factions since the onset of intermittent hostilities, exacerbated by the failure to implement a March agreement intended to integrate the Kurds’ semi-autonomous administration and military into the broader framework of Syria’s new Islamist government.
In an official statement, the army announced that the Sheikh Maqsud and Ashrafieh neighborhoods would be deemed closed military zones effective from 3:00 PM that day. The military declared its intent to establish “two safe humanitarian crossings” to facilitate civilian evacuation. Reports from AFP correspondents in Aleppo depicted scenes of families, often with children, hastily departing the neighborhoods, many visibly distraught as they carried their few possessions with them.
The army further classified all Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) military positions in Sheikh Maqsud and Ashrafieh as “legitimate military targets.” This pointed to a significant escalation in hostilities between the Syrian army and Kurdish-led elements, which have historically maintained control over these areas.
Ilham Ahmed, a high-ranking Kurdish official, accused the Syrian government of engaging in what she described as a “genocidal war” against the Kurdish population. She urged the government to abandon hostility in favor of dialogue to resolve ongoing tensions and disputes.
The violence prompted the suspension of all flights at Aleppo’s airport, while schools, universities, and government offices shut down amid concerns for public safety. The clashes on Tuesday resulted in nine fatalities, predominantly among civilians, as each side blamed the other for initiating the conflict.
Local resident Joud Serjian, a 53-year-old housewife living in the nearby Syriac Quarter, expressed her fears and memories of past conflicts, stating that the current violence was reminiscent of earlier wars. With limited options for relocation, many residents like her chose to remain in their homes despite the danger.
Aleppo, a city that was once a battlefield during the Syrian civil war, has experienced fluctuating control, with substantial fighting between rebel forces and the government of ousted President Bashar al-Assad prior to his eventual recapture of the city in 2016. Following Assad’s departure, the Kurdish forces maintained strategic control over key areas, including those historically linked to the SDF.
Abdul Karim Omar, a representative of the Kurdish autonomous administration in Damascus, reported that Aleppo’s Kurdish-majority neighborhoods were effectively “besieged.” He dismissed allegations of shelling from these areas, asserting that they were under the control of the Asayish domestic security forces, which are equipped primarily with light weapons.
Despite prior agreements for Kurdish fighters to withdraw from Sheikh Maqsud and Ashrafiyeh in April, these areas have continued to remain largely under Kurdish control. The SDF commands significant territories in Syria’s oil-rich north and northeast, backed by an international coalition led by the U.S., which played a crucial role in defeating the Islamic State group in Syria back in 2019.
The March agreement aimed at integrating Kurdish governance into the central state was expected to be enacted by the conclusion of 2025. However, serious tensions persist, with Kurdish aspirations for decentralized rule meeting firm resistance from Syria’s new authorities.
