A member of the Syrian Ministry of Defense was killed Saturday in a shooting in the Saif al-Dawla neighborhood of Aleppo, according to reports. The incident occurred amid ongoing tensions in the city following recent clashes between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Syrian government forces.
Eyewitnesses told the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) that two masked individuals on a motorcycle opened fire on the Ministry of Defense member in Saif al-Dawla, resulting in his immediate death. Ministry of Defense units have reportedly cordoned off the area and launched an investigation to identify the perpetrators.
The killing follows a separate incident on Friday where a member of the Syrian Internal Security Forces was wounded by SDF sniper fire at the Shihane roundabout checkpoint in Aleppo, SANA reported. The agency stated that SDF elements, stationed in the Ashrafieh district of Aleppo, which is under their control along with the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood, targeted the Internal Security Forces at the checkpoint.
Furthermore, the Syrian Army reportedly downed drones launched by the SDF targeting army positions at the Tishrin Dam in the eastern Aleppo countryside. Damascus has condemned this as a violation of the March 10th agreement.
The Internal Security Forces commander in Aleppo province, Hamad Abd al-Ghani, warned Friday that the SDF’s continued violations of ceasefires would be met with “necessary measures,” referring to the agreement that was expected to be implemented before the end of the year.
Earlier in the week, clashes between Syrian government forces and the SDF resulted in the deaths of three civilians and several injuries. Both sides have traded accusations regarding the outbreak of the fighting. This occurred after a visit by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, who urged the SDF not to obstruct Syria’s unity and stability, and called on them to implement the agreement.
The March agreement included provisions for integrating civilian and military institutions affiliated with the Kurdish Autonomous Administration in northeastern Syria into Syrian national institutions by the end of the year. However, little progress has been made.
The situation in Aleppo remains tense, with ongoing concerns about further escalation between the various armed actors in the region.
