Syrian Army Closes Kurdish Areas in Aleppo Amid Intense Clashes
Fighting Erupts Between Syrian Army and Kurdish-led Forces
The Syrian army has declared Kurdish areas in Aleppo as "closed military zones" and ordered civilians to evacuate as clashes with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) continue for a second consecutive day. The Syrian Army's Operations Command stated to Al Jazeera that all SDF military positions in the Aleppo neighborhoods are legitimate targets, while sporadic fighting between government forces and the SDF has persisted following a recent escalation of violence.
According to officials, clashes on Tuesday resulted in the deaths of nine individuals, marking the most intense confrontations since both parties failed to implement a March agreement aimed at merging the U.S.-backed semi-autonomous Kurdish administration with the new Syrian government. The Syrian army announced that two neighborhoods in Aleppo would become "closed military zones" from 3 PM local time (12 PM GMT). Simultaneously, it stated that it would operate "humanitarian corridors" to allow civilians to exit the area.
“All military sites of the SDF organization in the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh neighborhoods of Aleppo are legitimate targets for the Syrian Arab Army, following a significant escalation by the organization against the neighborhoods in the city and numerous massacres committed against civilians,” said the Army Operations Authority in a statement. The SDF reported a large deployment of Syrian army vehicles near the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyah neighborhoods, labeling this a "dangerous indicator" warning of escalation and the possibility of a major war.
Meanwhile, the army urged the civilian population in the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh neighborhoods of Aleppo to immediately avoid SDF positions. State news agency SANA reported that the Syrian Civil Defense Forces and Syrian Arab Red Crescent are providing assistance to those evacuating. The Civil Defense stated that it evacuated 850 civilians from Aleppo by noon, citing deteriorating humanitarian conditions and bombings from the SDF. A Syrian security source reported to Al Jazeera that prisoners have escaped from the al-Shafiq prison, which is managed by the SDF, to safe areas in Aleppo.
Religious Tensions
Both sides have accused each other of inciting violence, which erupted after talks this week between government officials and the SDF's main commander stalled without tangible results, according to state media. The integration of the SDF, which controls large parts of northern and northeastern Syria, into state institutions has remained a contentious issue since President Ahmed al-Sharaa took office a year ago. The agreement reached in March, where the SDF agreed that "all civil and military institutions in northeastern Syria" would be integrated into the "Syrian state, including border crossings, the airport, and oil and gas fields," has yet to be realized. Al-Sharaa’s efforts to consolidate power and ease sectarian tensions between the various groups in Syria, following the fall of long-time leader Bashar al-Assad, have not been aided by Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government has conducted persistent raids and bombardments in an attempt to demilitarize southern Syrian regions near the Israeli border.
Over 600 airstrikes, drone attacks, and artillery bombardments have been launched by Israel in the past year on Syrian territory, averaging almost two per day, according to a report by the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project. Marie Forestier, a senior non-resident fellow for the Atlantic Council's Syrian Project, stated to Al Jazeera that the gap between Syrian, Israeli, and American objectives is "very difficult," especially considering that "Israel is doing everything possible to destabilize Syria."
