Syrian government forces have moved into a key neighbourhood in the northern city of Aleppo following several days of intense combat with Kurdish-led fighters, a confrontation that has resulted in significant casualties and a major humanitarian displacement.
Security Sweep After Intense Fighting
The deployment by Syrian security forces into the Sheikh Maqsoud district began in earnest on Saturday 10 January 2026. This action came after authorities urged residents to remain indoors for their own safety while a military sweep was conducted. According to Syria's state news agency, SANA, the operation was preceded by an incident where two Kurdish fighters detonated explosives amidst security personnel, though no casualties were reported from that blast.
Gunfire continued to be heard in the area around noon on Saturday. The neighbourhood had been declared a "closed military zone" since Friday night as government forces initiated what they termed a "clearing operation." The clashes initially erupted on Tuesday in the predominantly Kurdish northern districts of Sheikh Maqsoud, Achrafieh, and Bani Zaid.
Root Causes and Mounting Casualties
The violence stems from a deadlock in negotiations between the Syrian government and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the primary Kurdish-led military faction in the country. Talks collapsed over how to integrate their forces into the national army. In the ensuing five days of fighting, at least 22 people lost their lives.
Kurdish officials stated that at least 12 civilians were killed in their neighbourhoods, while government sources reported a minimum of 10 civilian fatalities in surrounding government-held areas. The conflict has also triggered a severe displacement crisis, with more than 140,000 people forced to flee their homes. Hundreds were seen waiting at the entrances to Sheikh Maqsoud, hoping to return once military operations conclude.
Accusations of Endangering Civilians and Infrastructure
Each side has levelled serious accusations at the other. Syria's Information Minister, Hamza al-Mustafa, claimed in a state TV broadcast that Kurdish fighters used civilian buildings, including hospitals and clinics, during the engagements.
Conversely, the Kurdish-led Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria accused government forces of targeting the Khaled Fajr Hospital in Sheikh Maqsoud, thereby endangering patients and medical staff. They appealed for international intervention to halt the shelling. Both sides have accused the other of instigating the violence and deliberately attacking civilian areas and critical infrastructure, including ambulance crews.
State TV also reported that at least one security member was wounded by a drone strike launched by the SDF. Associated Press journalists on the ground noted bursts of gunfire as government drones operated over the neighbourhood. Prior to the latest advance, security forces had already captured the adjacent districts of Achrafieh and Bani Zaid.
The regional implications of the flare-up were underscored by diplomatic discussions in Jordan. Jordanian state media reported that Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi met with U.S. Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack in Amman to discuss the developments. Jordan expressed support for efforts to consolidate a ceasefire and facilitate the peaceful withdrawal of Kurdish fighters from Aleppo.
