Fighting has intensified in Aleppo, with the Syrian Army issuing a stern warning to the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and urging civilians to evacuate areas near SDF positions. The Army’s Operations Command stated that all SDF military sites within Aleppo’s neighborhoods are now considered legitimate targets following renewed SDF shelling of residential areas.
The Operations Command declared that “all military positions of the SDF organization within the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh districts of Aleppo are legitimate military targets for the Syrian Arab Army, following the organization’s significant escalation towards the city of Aleppo and its commission of numerous massacres against civilians.”
A statement from the Army implores civilians residing in the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh districts of Aleppo to immediately evacuate the vicinity of SDF positions. To facilitate this, the Army announced the opening of two safe humanitarian corridors at the Al-Awarid crossing and Flowers Street, operational until 3:00 PM Damascus time.
Reports indicate that the SDF has been targeting the al-Suryan district with artillery fire, while Syrian Army forces are engaging the SDF along the Castello and Shihan axes. The extent of property damage and casualties resulting from the shelling remains unknown at this time.
On Tuesday, SDF forces reportedly shelled residential areas and an Army position in Aleppo with artillery and heavy machine guns, resulting in five fatalities, including four civilians (two of whom were women), and 21 injuries. In addition to the civilian casualties, one Syrian soldier was killed and five others were wounded in a drone attack launched by the SDF on Syrian Army positions within the city. The Shihan roundabout area of Aleppo witnessed gunfire and clashes following the drone strike.
Conversely, the SDF has accused factions affiliated with the Ministry of Defense of targeting the Sheikh Maqsoud district and the Der Hafer district center, both under SDF control, holding them responsible for the escalation and vowing retaliation.
Following these developments, the Syrian General Authority for Civil Aviation announced the suspension of flights to and from Aleppo International Airport for 24 hours. The Governor of Aleppo also announced the suspension of work on Wednesday in all government departments, schools, and universities, and the cancellation of all group and social activities.
