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| Aleppo clashes (2025–2026) | |||||||||
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| Part of theSDF–Syrian transitional government clashes during theSyrian conflict | |||||||||
%2c_Aleppo.svg) Military situation as of 10 January 2026 | |||||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||||
 Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria |  Syrian transitional government[a] | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
Salih Muslim Mazloum AbdiFerhad ŞamîSipan Hamo Ziyad Halab † Alif Muhammad[4] Axîn Nûcan[5] | Ahmed al-Sharaa Murhaf Abu QasraAli Noureddine al-Naasan Ahmed RizkAsim HawariAnas KhattabMohammed Abdul GhaniFahim Issa Doghan Suleiman | ||||||||
| Units involved | |||||||||
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| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| 5+ killed6+ injured PerSDF 5 killed (2026 only)[9]PerSyrian transitional government: Unspecified number killed (2026 only)[10] 59 wounded[10] Remaining garrison surrendered and evacuated (2026 only) | 28+ killed 3+ injured | ||||||||
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Personal
Political offices
President of Syria Incumbent
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TheAleppo clashes (2025–2026) were aseries of clashes between theSyrian transitional government andSyrian Democratic Forces inAleppo.[11][12] The fighting was centered around theSheikh Maqsood andAshrafiyah neighborhoods, both of which areKurdish-majority districts and under the control of theDemocratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria-affiliatedAsayish police force.[13] The clashes came to an end after the neighborhoods came under the control of theSyrian Army in January 2026.[2]
Since the beginning of theSyrian civil war, Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyah have been under local Kurdish administration and maintained a semi-autonomous status withinAleppo. Tensions between the Kurdish authorities and government-aligned forces have occasionally flared due to disputes over control, movement, and security in these districts.[14][15]
During thefall of the Assad regime in December 2024,Turkey and its affiliated militant group, theSyrian National Army, launched various offensives against Kurdish-controlled areas east of theEuphrates. Following months of fighting, which stalled near theTishrin Dam, and anSDF counteroffensive in December 2024, SDF leaderMazloum Abdi andSyrian transitional government leaderAhmed al-Sharaa signed the U.S.-backed10 March agreement,[b] which implemented a country-wide ceasefire and laid out principles for the integration of the DAANES into the new Syrian government.[16][17][18] It envisaged equal representation forminorities in the political process and proposed integrating the SDF's military and civilian structures into the new Syrian state, while allowing the SDF to retainde facto control over border posts andoil fields inKurdish areas.[19] A follow-up agreement in April, which was reportedly also brokered with American involvement, established a joint security framework for the Kurdish enclaves inSheikh Maqsood and al-Ashrafiyah,Aleppo. The neighborhoods remained under the control of theAsayish and several smaller Aleppo-based Kurdish groups.[20]
Delays in implementing the 10 March agreement, with both sides accusing each other of obstruction, along with the cancellation of the SDF–Syria talks inParis on 25 July and again on 9–10 August, heightened hostilities between the AANES and the Syrian government, which, according to Hawar News Agency and theInstitute for the Study of War, was facing increasing Turkish pressure.[21][22][23][24]
On 4 April, anagreement was reached in Aleppo between the neighborhood councils of Ashrafiyah and Sheikh Maqsoud and the Syrian governments' presidential committee to implement the terms of a settlement with the SDF, which had controlled the two neighborhoods for several years. Under the agreement, a security center affiliated with theSyrian Ministry of Interior would be established in both neighborhoods, while the main checkpoints would remain under the supervision of the Asayish and the ministry's internal security forces.[25]
In the beginning of July 2025, tensions inAleppo increased when government forces blocked fuel supplies from reaching the Kurdish-majority and SDF-controlled neighborhoods ofSheikh Maqsood and al-Ashrafiyah. TheSyrian Observatory for Human Rights described the blockade as a continuation of "old regime tactics."[26] In August, Nouri Sheikho, Deputy Head of the General Council of Sheikh Maqsood and Ashrafiyeh, toldKurdistan24 that tensions had risen in recent days following the "Unity of Components" conference in Hasakah.[27]
Government reinforcements were subsequently regularly deployed to the vicinity of Sheikh Maqsood and al-Ashrafiyah in what was described as a "show-of-force operation" intended to raise fears of a possible field escalation.[28]
By the beginning of October, Kurdish news outlets reported that the Syrian Army had escalated measures by constructing earthen barriers and blocking roads on the outskirts of Sheikh Maqsood and al-Ashrafiyah, as well as barricading streets and establishing positions inside residential buildings.[29][30][31] The SOHR confirmed the Syrian army's military buildup near the neighbourhoods.[32]
Before fighting errupted in Aleppo, tensions escalated on 5 October, between the SDF and government forces inDayr Hafir, east of Aleppo.[33]
On 6 October 2025, clashes erupted between forces affiliated with the Syrian Democratic Forces and government troops in the neighborhoods of Ashrafiyah and Sheikh Maqsoud. Following the confrontation, government forces closed all roads leading into the two neighborhoods, effectively restricting movement and access.[34][35] Residents protested the closures, demanding freedom of movement, and some demonstrations were met withtear gas andlive fire by security forces.[36]
Heavy exchanges of fire, including small arms and medium weapons, were reported in the neighborhoods, resulting in casualties on both sides and displacing some families.[37] Kurdish authorities accused the government-aligned forces of attempting to infiltrate the neighborhoods and targeting civilians.[38] TheSyrian Ministry of Defense stated that army movements in northern andnortheastern Syria respond 'to repeated SDF attacks on civilians and security forces'.[39] Calm returned to the Kurdish-majority neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyah after a preliminary agreement between Syrian government forces and the Syrian Democratic Forces.[40][41]
On 7 October, following the heavy clashes between the SDF and the Transitional Government, a delegation consisting of SDF General CommanderMazloum Abdi, Co-Chair of the Department of Foreign RelationsIlham Ahmed, andWomen's Protection Units (YPJ) Commander Rojhilat Afrin met with transitional government leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra, and Foreign MinisterAsaad al-Shaibani.[42][43] The brief clashes from 5-7 October resulted in 3 deaths and over 26 injuries.[44]
The U.S.-backed meeting resulted in the signing of a comprehensive ceasefire agreement between both sides across "all fronts and deployment areas."[45] Defense minister Abu Qasra wrote on X that "the implementation of this agreement [would] begin immediately."[46]
On 22 December 2025, clashes erupted betweenSyrian transitional government forces and theSyrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The Syrian government stated that SDF units had targeted a checkpoint in Aleppo, injuring twocivil defense personnel. In response, the SDF alleged that a Syrian government attack wounded two members of theAsayish.[47]
The clashes began during a visit by a high-level Turkish delegation to Damascus, including the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defense as well as the head of intelligence, and shortly before the reported end-of-year deadline for implementing the10 March agreement.[44]
Fighting initially involved small arms before escalating to artillery and medium- and heavy-weapons fire. SDF attacks reportedly affected several neighborhoods, including al-Jamiliya, Bustan al-Basha, al-Midan, al-Suryan, and al-Sabil, with snipers active near the al-Layramoun and al-Shayhan roundabouts in northern Aleppo. One mortar shell reportedly landed near al-Razi hospital. These areas are adjacent toSheikh Maqsood and al-Ashrafiyah, where SDF forces maintain a strong presence.[48]
According to Syrian state media, SDF units attempted to advance on government security positions, described as a "new violation" of the ceasefire agreement. The clashes also led to the closure of all access routes to Sheikh Maqsood and al-Ashrafiyah. Following the fighting, local authorities raised the readiness of emergency, disaster, health, and social services, advising residents to remain indoors.[48] Aleppo governor,Azzam al-Gharib, temporarily suspended operations on 23 December for all public and private schools, universities, and government offices across the city.[49]
Tensions shortly spread to eastern Syria, where SDF reinforcements were reportedly deployed to the village of Ghanem al-Ali near Syrian army-controlled areas in theRaqqa Governorate's countryside. At the same time, unmanned aerial vehicles were observed over the town ofMa'adan, under government control.[48]
Hostilities subsided around 22:00 local time, as representatives of the Syrian government and SDF entered talks aimed at calming the situation and reaffirming the ceasefire. According to the Syrian Ministry of Defense, the clashes ended after orders were issued by the army's general command to halt strikes on SDF positions to prevent civilian casualties. The SDF stated it ceased its response after receiving calls for de-escalation, noting the decision was intended to restore calm.[48]
The following day, 23 December, theSyrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the Kurdish neighborhoods remained under siege, with electricity and water cut off, key roads closed, and internet services disrupted. Clashes in December resulted in 1 death and 9 injuries from combatants on both sides, as well as 4 deaths and 34 injuries among civilians.[50]
On 26 December, the head of Internal Security in Aleppo,Mohammed Abdul Ghani, stated that snipers of the SDF opened fire on an Interior Ministry checkpoint near al-Shihan Roundabout in northern Aleppo, resulting in injuries to one member of the Internal Security Forces, who was subsequently taken to hospital for treatment. He said that security units responded to the source of the fire and neutralized it in line with established operational procedures. Abdul Ghani also urged civilians to avoid areas experiencing tension for their own safety and called on them to comply with official instructions.Abdul Ghani held the SDF fully responsible for any escalation or consequences arising from what he described as repeated violations, stressing that continued breaches of ceasefires and attacks on security positions would prompt appropriate measures.[51]
In response, the SDF media center accused what it described as factions linked to the Damascus government of deploying tanks and heavy military vehicles around the al-Ashrafieh neighborhood, calling it an escalation. The center stated that those factions would bear full responsibility for any resulting consequences.[52]
On 6 January 2026, clashes erupted in Aleppo.[53] The Asayish forces targeted a Syrian government vehicle on the Castello Road in northern Aleppo, killing one soldier and injuring four others from the72nd Division, the SOHR reported.[54]
On 7 January, clashes in Sheikh Maqsood and Ashrafieh intensified, and were described as the harshest day of clashes. Syrian government declared all Asayish military positions in the neighborhoods to be "legitimate targets."[55] At 15:00 p.m. local time a full scalecombined arms assault was launched by the Syrian Army on the neighbourhoods.[56] The Syrian Army attempted to enter the areas with armored vehicles, including tanks, but these efforts were repelled by the Asayish.[57] According to the SOHR, fighting that day killed at least one Asayish member and four Syrian Army soldiers.[58]
On 8 January, clashes continued as the Syrian Army was trying to infiltrate the neighbourhoods,[59][60] artillery shelling struck the Othman Hospital in Sheikh Maqsood, killing 8 civilians and injuring nearly 60 others.[61][62] Turkish drones reportedly provided support for Syrian Army ground incursions.[63] In the late evening hours, Syrian Army forces, succeeded in partially infiltrating the Ashrafieh neighborhood after fighters from theal-Baggara tribe defected and opened access to the area, as fighting persisted throughout the night.[64]
On 9 January, the Syrian government declared a unilateral ceasefire to take effect at 03:00 local time and offered Kurdish fighters in the neighborhoods the option to evacuate to Kurdish-controlled areas inNortheastern Syria,[65] after having captured the Ashrafieh neigbourhood.[66] The Syrian state news agencySANA reported that Syrian army buses had arrived in Aleppo to evacuate the remaining Asayish fighters from Aleppo.[67] However, the Kurdish councils in the neighborhoods rejected the proposal, describing it as "a call to surrender," and stated that Kurdish forces would instead "defend their neighborhoods."[68] Clashes continued throughout the rest of the day, accompanied by hours-long artillery shelling by government forces going into the night.[69]
On 10 January, pro-government Syrian media declared that Syrian army forces entered parts of Sheikh Maqsood, while fighting persisted.[70] Heavy fighting in Sheikh Maqsood led to five Asayish members carrying out asuicide attack on government forces, killing themselves while also killing and wounding several government fighters, according to the SOHR and Kurdish media.[71][72]
Later that day, theSyrian Democratic Forces and their affiliates reached a ceasefire agreement with theSyrian transitional government to withdraw their fighters tonortheastern Syria.[2][3] The Syrian government declared a second ceasefire to take effect at 03:00 p.m. local time and outlined a plan for the relocation of Kurdish fighters.[73]France 24 reported that "limited clashes" continued despite the Syrian Army's claims that it had taken control of Sheikh Maqsood, citing local sources.[74] Before midnight, the Kurdish councils of the neighborhoods declared a "partial ceasefire" to allow the evacuation of the wounded and civilians.[75]
Around 60 Asayish fighters surrendered to the Syrian Army and were subsequently sent to North East Syria on buses.[76]
On 11 January, the final batch of Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighters withdrew from the city of Aleppo. Aleppo GovernorAzzam al-Gharib told Al Jazeera early on Sunday that Aleppo had become "empty of SDF fighters" after government forces coordinated their overnight withdrawal on buses out of the city. SDF commanderMazloum Abdi said the group had reached an understanding through international mediation that included a ceasefire and the safe evacuation of civilians and fighters. Reporting from Damascus, Al Jazeera correspondent Ayman Oghanna said that calm had returned to Aleppo and that the United States played an instrumental role in brokering the agreement between the SDF and the Syrian government.[77]
On 13 January, the Syrian Army declaredMaskanah andDayr Hafir in the eastern Aleppo countryside closed military zones. The Syrian Ministry of Defence accused the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) of regrouping in the area, alleging that SDF forces had deployed Iranian-made drones to launch attacks on civilians in Aleppo and had destroyed three bridges linking SDF-controlled areas with government-held territory east of the city. The SDF denied the accusations, stating that it had not deployed forces to the Deir Hafer front. According to Al Jazeera, the past 24 hours saw what it described as a “very dangerous escalation,” as government forces redeployed and mobilised troops in eastern rural Aleppo amid tensions with the SDF.[78]
On 13 January 2026, the Syrian transitional government launched an offensive against the SDF in theKurdish-controlled regions ofnortheastern Syria. Initially focused on easternAleppo Governorate, around the towns of Dayr Hafir and Maskanah, the offensive expanded on 17 January toRaqqa,Deir ez-Zor andAl-Hasakah Governorates.
Greek City Times reported that Syrian government forces issued maps and warnings designating a site in Sheikh Maqsood as a Kurdish military position and announcing that artillery shelling would follow. However, this claim was challenged by Antoine Mekhallale, a senior official of theGreek Melkite Catholic Church in Aleppo, who said in a social media post that the marked buildings were church-owned property housing up to 40Christian civilian families, not an SDF military site.[79]
In a joint statement, several Syrian human rights watchdogs, including theSyria Justice and Accountability Centre andSyrians for Truth and Justice, condemned the attacks on the neighborhoods and warned that the recent military escalation has raised serious concerns among local communities about the risk of new human rights violations.[80]
Following the clashes in January, multiple US senators began calling for the reintroduction ofsanctions on Syria, and called for a strong reaction if fighting resumes.[81]Member of the European Parliament also called for the suspension of European aid to Syria due to the clashes.[82]
Syria: TheSyrian Ministry of Interior said that theSDF attacked Internal Security Forces checkpoints despite existing agreements, while theMinistry of Defense rejected allegations that government forces had attacked SDF positions, asserting that the SDF had carried out an assault on army and security checkpoints. The clashes coincided with comments from Syrian Foreign MinisterAsaad al-Shaibani during a joint press conference with his Turkish counterpartHakan Fidan inDamascus. Al-Shaibani stated that the Syrian government had "seen no serious initiative" from the SDF to implement the10 March agreement, accusing the group of delaying its integration into state institutions. He added that the government had offered a proposal to the SDF to allow flexibility, received their response the previous day, and that the Ministry of Defense was currently reviewing it, warning that any delay by the SDF in integrating with the Syrian army could negatively affect stability in eastern Syria.[83] Later in January 2026, PresidentAhmed al-Sharaa, in an interview withShams TV, emphasized that the Syrian government approached the liberation operations responsibly, balancing military objectives with humanitarian concerns. He noted that the events in Aleppo, particularly inSheikh Maqsoud, aimed to maintain security and stability, safeguard the country’s economic lifelines, and uphold the law following repeated attacks on residential areas and threats to public safety. He affirmed that the operation was successful, carried out with minimal cost, and ensured the safe evacuation of civilians.[84]SDF /DAANES: Following mutual accusations over the shelling, the SDF denied claims by the Syrian government and the Ministry of Interior that their units had targeted neighborhoods in Aleppo. The Kurdish-led Autonomous Administration issued a counter-statement accusing Syrian government forces of attacking the Kurdish-majority neighborhoods in Aleppo, claiming that the aim was to undermine efforts toward a comprehensive political solution addressing the aspirations of all Syrians.[83]
Druze community: Dozens of Druze staged a sit-in protest inSweida in solidarity with residents of Sheikh Maqsood and Ashrafieh, holdingKurdish andSDF flags.[85]
United States: PresidentDonald Trump addressed the clashes, saying, "I want to see peace, yes, I do. The Kurds and the Syrian government, we get along with both, as you know very well. They have been natural enemies over the years, but we get along with both."[86]
Israel: Israeli Foreign MinisterGideon Sa'ar warned that attacks on Kurds in Aleppo are "dangerous and alarming" and that "theinternational community in general, and theWest in particular, has a moral debt toward the Kurds who fought bravely and successfully against ISIS."[87]
Turkey: During the joint press conference in Damascus, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan emphasized the importance of integrating the SDF into the Syrian administration in a transparent manner. He warned that any further delays could threaten the unity and stability of Syria's territory. Fidan noted that the SDF appeared unwilling to implement its integration into the Syrian armed forces before the end-of-year deadline, cautioning that Ankara's patience was running thin. He stressed that Turkey hopes to avoid military action, but added that continued procrastination could alter the current situation. Fidan also claimed that some SDF operations were being coordinated with Israel, describing this as a major obstacle to ongoing negotiations with the Syrian government.[88]
Egypt: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement calling for de-escalation, an end to violence, and the protection of civilians, while emphasizing the importance of preserving Syria's security and territorial integrity. The statement expressed deep concern over the rapid escalation of clashes in northern Syria, particularly in Aleppo, and the accompanying acts of violence that endanger civilians and threaten the country's stability. Egypt stressed that a sustainable resolution to the Syrian crisis requires a comprehensive political process based on dialogue, taking into account the interests of all segments of the Syrian population within the framework of the national state and its institutions.[89]
Kurdistan Region: The influential Kurdish leader of theKurdistan Democratic Party (KDP),Masoud Barzani, criticized the bombardment of Sheikh Maqsood and Ashrafieh, raising serious concerns about possibleethnic-based targeting of Kurds.[90] Similarly,Bafel Talabani, leader of thePatriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), expressed his "deep concerns" over the events in Aleppo.[91]
Kurds in Turkey: Thousands of anti-Syrian government protesters gathered inDiyarbakır and other Kurdish-majority cities in Turkey to rally against the Syrian government. Banners read "DefendingRojava means defending humanity," while demonstrators chanted slogans such as "Long live the resistance of Rojava," "Long live the resistance of Sheikh Maqsoud," "Women, life, freedom," and "Murderer HTS, collaborator ISIS."[92][93]Kurdish diaspora: Several demonstrations were announced and held by the Kurdish diaspora inGermany,Austria,France, andGreece.[94]
Holy See:Pope Leo XIV called for peace and dialogue, saying that "persistent tensions are causing the deaths of many people."[95]
European Union: European Commission PresidentUrsula von der Leyen described the clashes in Aleppo as "worrying" during her visit to Damascus on 9 January 2026.[96]Factions affiliated with the interim government fully captured the Ashrafieh neighborhood in Aleppo city after three days of fighting.
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