On Monday, the transitional government forces in Syria launched an assault on the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh neighborhoods in Aleppo, following the imposition of a severe blockade.

A day earlier, on Sunday at around 5:00 p.m., the transitional government forces had closed all entrances and exits to the two neighborhoods, after days of erecting earthen barriers and sealing several access roads leading to them. This was followed by drone attacks and infiltration attempts into the neighborhoods, alongside reports of heavy weapons being deployed around the area.

Amid the escalating danger, the General Council of the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh neighborhoods called on residents to take to the streets in protest against the road closures and ongoing siege.

Responding to the call, residents began heading toward the main roads leading to the neighborhoods to express their rejection of the blockade. Hundreds of people faced the transitional government forces with their bare chests, chanting slogans in support of the resistance of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh and demanding that the roads be reopened.

The transitional government forces responded by firing tear gas canisters and live ammunition indiscriminately at the crowd, causing dozens of suffocation cases. Around 25 people were taken to hospitals for treatment.

Subsequently, the transitional government forces attempted to storm the neighborhoods using tanks and armored vehicles from four directions, firing heavily toward civilians. The escalation prompted the Internal Security Forces in the neighborhoods to respond to the sources of fire, leading to clashes with light and medium weapons.

The transitional government forces continued their assault, attempting to break into the neighborhoods with heavy vehicles, running over several civilians during their advance. This resulted in the martyrdom of two people and injuries to dozens more, who were transported to hospitals with varying degrees of wounds. The neighborhoods were later shelled with mortar rounds.

By late night, a tense calm settled over the area after the transitional government forces withdrew from the vicinity of the two neighborhoods.

According to the preliminary toll obtained by the ANHA agency, two people were martyred and more than 60 others were injured.

A-H 

ANHA 

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