Damascus, Syria – The Syrian Ministry of Interior has accused the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) of attempting to instigate a military confrontation in Aleppo. According to a statement released today, the government remains committed to restraint and prioritizing political solutions despite what it describes as deliberate field escalation and targeting of civilians.
Nour al-Din al-Baba, spokesperson for the Ministry, stated that security forces detected hostile activity by the SDF in the vicinity of the Ashrafieh and Sheikh Maqsoud districts prior to the outbreak of clashes. This activity was reportedly addressed and thwarted before the SDF withdrew from joint checkpoints.
The spokesperson further alleged that this withdrawal was followed by direct targeting of these checkpoints, resulting in injuries to two members of the internal security forces. He described this as a deliberate shift from limited tension to open escalation.
Aleppo has witnessed clashes between Syrian security forces and the SDF involving heavy machine guns, RPGs, and mortars, particularly around the Ashrafieh district and the area from Shihane roundabout to Lairamoun roundabout. Each side accuses the other of initiating the hostilities.
Reports indicate casualties on both sides. A medical source stated that civilians were killed and injured in SDF shelling of neighborhoods in Aleppo. The SDF has also reported civilian casualties resulting from alleged rocket and artillery fire. The Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) accused the SDF of shelling Al-Razi Hospital with mortar rounds.
Al-Baba emphasized that the SDF allegedly extended their attacks beyond checkpoints to include a “systematic shelling campaign” targeting densely populated residential and commercial areas, resulting in civilian deaths and injuries.
The spokesperson also noted that at least six of the recorded injuries involved members of the Syrian Civil Defense, who were allegedly directly targeted while performing their duties. He condemned this as a blatant violation of the rules protecting civilians and humanitarian personnel.
Al-Baba stated that government forces responded to the sources of fire to neutralize them, focusing solely on military positions and operations rooms, while attempting to safeguard residential areas.
