Residents carry their belongings as they flee from Sheikh Maqsoud and Achrafieh neighbourhoods after clashes broke out.
Clashes resume in Aleppo as civilians evacuate neighborhoods
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- Clashes resume in Aleppo after stalled March agreement talks between Syrian army and SDF.
- Civilians are evacuating neighborhoods under SDF control amid warnings of escalating conflict.
Clashes renewed between the Syrian Arab Army and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) following talks held last Sunday in Damascus, aimed at implementing the March 10 agreement. The negotiations highlighted deep disagreements over the agreement’s implementation, with each side blaming the other for failing to act.
Stalled talks and ongoing disputes
The March agreement, signed by President Ahmad Al-Sharaa and SDF commander Mazloum Abdi, included provisions for integrating civilian and military SDF institutions into national structures by the end of the year. According to a Kurdish official, Damascus proposed a written plan to integrate SDF forces into the army, dividing them into three divisions and multiple brigades, including a women’s brigade, under SDF leadership in areas under their control.
On December 22, 2025, Syrian Foreign Minister Assad Sheibani confirmed that Damascus received a written response from the Kurdish forces. However, the talks last Sunday failed to produce tangible results, according to a government source cited by Syrian news channel Al-Ikhbariya.
Escalation in Aleppo
On the same day the talks faltered, heavy clashes broke out in Aleppo, particularly in the Ashrafieh, Sheikh Maqsoud, and Al-Suryan districts under SDF control. Syrian authorities described SDF positions in these neighborhoods as legitimate military targets.
Civilian evacuations intensified after the Syrian Army declared the areas “closed military zones.” The Civil Defense reported relocating numerous families trapped in their homes, while Aleppo’s General Transport Company mobilized buses to ensure safe passage for residents. Two humanitarian corridors were opened to allow civilians to leave safely.
Weapons, intentions, and mutual accusations
Political analysts in Syria noted that the weapons used by SDF, medium and heavy machine guns, artillery, and drones, suggest a deliberate intent to undermine the agreement. Meanwhile, SDF accused pro-government forces of targeting Ashrafieh, Sheikh Maqsoud, and the Dier Hafer subdistrict.
Journalist Akhtin Asaad pointed out that pro-government forces have a long history of clashes with SDF, while local internal security units in the targeted neighborhoods lack heavy equipment such as artillery and tanks, which Damascus referenced in its statements.
Risks to civilians
The Syrian Army emphasized that all SDF military sites in Ashrafieh and Sheikh Maqsoud are legitimate targets due to SDF escalation and attacks on the neighborhoods, which allegedly included massacres against civilians. Civilians were urged to avoid these areas for their safety.
