The Syrian Defense Ministry has declared a ceasefire in three neighborhoods of Aleppo, the country’s largest city, following clashes between government forces and Kurdish-led militias.
The ceasefire, effective 3 a.m. local time Friday, covers Sheikh Maqsoud, Ashrafieh, and Bani Zeid. The Aleppo security command simultaneously imposed a curfew in several Kurdish-majority areas.
Fighting between the army and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which control large parts of northern and eastern Syria, began last week, forcing an estimated 100,000 people to flee their homes.
On Thursday, government troops attempted to advance into Kurdish-held neighborhoods, while Damascus demanded the withdrawal of “militia groups.” The government blamed the SDF for “tensions and instability,” accusing the group of violating a previous accord.
The SDF, in turn, blamed Damascus, asserting that the militias had withdrawn “openly and in a documented manner” months ago and handed control of the neighborhoods to government forces. The SDF, a longtime key US ally in the war-torn country, said the area was being “besieged” by the army.
Videos from Aleppo show heavy shelling and Syrian troops using drones against the SDF.
Kurdish forces were seen ambushing government troops and firing sniper rifles and machine guns from high-rise buildings.
The Syrian government reached a deal with Kurdish leaders in Aleppo in April granting them autonomy under Damascus’ rule. A broader agreement, meant to reintegrate Kurdish-led civil and military structures into the central government by the end of 2025, has never been implemented, with both sides blaming each other.
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