Kurdish-Led SDF Opens Fire on Aleppo Neighborhoods, Kills Two Civilians and Displaces Dozens

Clashes broke out in Aleppo’s northwestern neighborhoods on Monday between Syrian government forces, including Internal Security linked to the Ministry of Interior, and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), leaving civilians dead, dozens displaced and emergency responders wounded.

“Violence comes as top Syrian and Turkish officials held talks on integrating SDF forces into Syria’s new army”

Al Jazeera

Sources report the violence hit areas including al-Sheikh Maqsud, al-Ashrafiyah, the al-Layramoun and al-Shehan roundabouts and nearby neighborhoods.

Al Jazeera

State and medical sources put at least two civilians killed and multiple wounded, and both sides later agreed to a halt to the fighting.

The fighting coincided with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan’s visit to Damascus amid pressure to implement a March integration deal for the SDF that has so far stalled.

Casualty counts and the pattern of damage vary across reports.

Syrian state outlets and some Turkish-aligned sources assert multiple civilian deaths and damage to infrastructure, including reports that al-Razi Hospital was struck.

Al-Jazeera Net

SDF and Asayish statements report fewer civilian deaths and say their forces also suffered casualties.

Medical and civil defence reports described wounded emergency responders and children among the injured, with numbers varying across accounts and one state report putting the injured at 15.

Accounts differ sharply over who opened fire.

“Violent clashes erupted on Monday between the Internal Security forces, the Syrian army and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the city of Aleppo in the northwest of the country, resulting in deaths, injuries and the displacement of dozens of families”

Al-Jazeera Net

Syrian Interior and Defense ministries and pro-government broadcasters assert the SDF withdrew from joint checkpoints and opened fire or shelled neighborhoods.

SDF statements and Kurd-aligned outlets say pro-army or Damascus-affiliated factions attacked a joint checkpoint and then shelled Kurdish-majority areas.

Independent and Western-local reporting emphasizes that each side accused the other and that the origin of the fighting remains unclear.

Clashes occurred amid renewed diplomatic pressure linked to a March 10 agreement that envisioned integrating SDF elements into state institutions.

Turkish officials in Damascus pressed for implementation and warned of consequences.

albawaba

Damascus said it was reviewing integration proposals.

Reports note that implementation details remain vague and a deadline looms.

Turkish diplomacy, including Fidan's visit, was a notable factor in the timing of the flare-up.

Dozens of families have been displaced; emergency services are on heightened readiness; roads are closed and fires have broken out in several neighborhoods, and local officials have urged residents to avoid battle zones.

“Three civilians were killed and several others, including children, security personnel and civil defense workers, were wounded on Monday when fire from the terrorist YPG/PKK-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) struck northern Aleppo, prompting dozens of families and factory workers to escape the area, Syrian authorities said”

Daily Sabah

Some outlets note a longer-running context of a partial siege, cut-offs and previous October clashes that have strained these Kurdish-majority neighborhoods and complicated aid delivery and evacuations.

Daily Sabah