The Syrian army declared the Sheikh Maqsud and Ashrafieh neighborhoods of Aleppo “closed military zones” on Wednesday, escalating a conflict with Kurdish forces that has already claimed at least nine lives and prompted a civilian exodus. The move follows two days of intense clashes between the Syrian military and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), raising fears of a wider confrontation in the region.
In a statement released Wednesday afternoon, the Syrian army announced the establishment of “two safe humanitarian crossings” to facilitate civilian departures from the targeted neighborhoods. AFP correspondents reported witnessing large numbers of families, many visibly distressed, leaving Sheikh Maqsud and Ashrafieh carrying their belongings.
The army’s statement explicitly designated “all Syrian Democratic Forces military positions” within the two neighborhoods as “legitimate military targets.” This declaration signals a significant hardening of the government’s stance towards the Kurdish presence in Aleppo, a city that saw devastating fighting during the Syrian civil war before being recaptured by government forces in 2016.
Ilham Ahmed, a senior official representing the Kurdish administration, condemned the Syrian government’s actions as a “genocidal war” against the Kurds. She urged Damascus to “pursue a path of reason to resolve problems through dialogue,” but as of Wednesday evening, no communication between the two sides had been publicly reported.
The violence has disrupted civilian life in Aleppo, leading to the suspension of all flights to and from the city’s airport and the closure of schools, universities, and government offices. Joud Serjian, a resident of the Syriac Quarter near Ashrafieh, described the fighting as a stark reminder of the earlier years of the Syrian conflict. “We have nowhere else to head, so we’ll stay in our home,” she told AFP.
The current clashes stem from the stalled implementation of a March agreement intended to integrate the Kurdish administration and its military forces into the Syrian state. That agreement stipulated the completion of integration by the end of 2025, but fundamental disagreements remain, particularly regarding the Kurds’ demand for decentralized rule, a proposal rejected by the Syrian government.
Abdul Karim Omar, a representative of the Kurdish autonomous administration in Damascus, stated that the Kurdish-majority neighborhoods of Aleppo were “completely besieged” by Syrian forces. He denied that any shelling had originated from these areas, asserting that they are controlled by the Asayish, the Kurdish domestic security forces, who he said are equipped only with light weapons.
Despite agreeing to withdraw from Sheikh Maqsud and Ashrafieh in April, Kurdish units linked to the SDF have maintained a presence in the neighborhoods. The SDF, which controls significant territory in Syria’s oil-rich north and northeast, played a crucial role in the defeat of the Islamic State group in Syria in 2019 with the support of a US-led international coalition. The continued presence of SDF-linked forces appears to be a key factor in the current escalation.
The Syrian government, led by President Bashar al-Assad, regained control of Aleppo in December 2016 after a prolonged and brutal siege. Prior to that, the city was divided between government-controlled areas and rebel-held territories. The current conflict represents a new challenge to Assad’s authority in the city and raises questions about the future of Kurdish autonomy within Syria.
As of Wednesday evening, the Syrian army had not responded to accusations of indiscriminate attacks or provided details regarding the scope of its military operation. The SDF has yet to issue a comprehensive statement outlining its response to the siege and the declaration of the neighborhoods as military zones.
