Escalation in northern Aleppo as clashes intensify, airport shuts down

• Smoke rises over northern Aleppo as clashes intensify near Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh, forcing the shutdown of the city’s international airport.

Aleppo witnessed a sharp military escalation on Wednesday as heavy fighting and mutual shelling intensified around the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh neighborhoods in the city’s north.

The flare-up came amid a war of statements between the Syrian army and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), while air traffic at Aleppo International Airport was brought to a complete halt.

Damascus accuses SDF of trapping civilians

In a series of urgent statements, Syria’s Ministry of Defense accused the SDF of planting explosives along main roads in Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh and preventing residents from leaving the areas. According to the ministry, civilians were fired upon to intimidate them and were being used as human shields.

The Syrian army said it had not yet launched any ground advance, stressing that its current priority was to secure safe corridors for civilians to leave the neighborhoods. It warned that security would be imposed “by appropriate means” to protect residents from what it described as the SDF’s abuses.

On the ground, the state-run SANA news agency reported that army units had successfully shot down an “explosive-laden drone” near Ashrafieh. Medical sources also confirmed a rise in civilian casualties, with at least 24 people injured following mortar fire and heavy machine-gun attacks on residential areas, including Nile Street, the Syriac Quarter, and the vicinity of Sheihan Roundabout.

SDF rejects accusations

The SDF, for its part, denied having any significant military presence inside Aleppo. Its leadership claimed that it had previously withdrawn from the city in a public and documented manner and had handed over security responsibilities in Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh to Internal Security Forces.

Describing the Syrian government’s allegations as “fabricated,” the SDF warned that continued military action against the two neighborhoods could trigger “serious consequences” extending beyond Aleppo itself.

Flights suspended at Aleppo airport

As the security situation deteriorated, the Syrian Civil Aviation Authority announced an extension of the suspension of all flights to and from Aleppo International Airport. In a statement, the authority said the closure would remain in effect until 11 p.m. on Thursday, citing concerns for the safety of passengers and aircraft amid ongoing rocket and artillery fire targeting the city.