Fighting has flared up again in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo this morning. The renewed hostilities come as a government proposal suggests a complete withdrawal of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) from the city towards Raqqa.
According to sources familiar with the matter, the government’s proposal stipulates that in exchange for the SDF’s withdrawal, only Public Security Forces, and not the army, would enter the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh districts. This follows the government’s declaration of these two districts as closed military zones and the imposition of a curfew.
The SDF has reportedly rejected this proposal. Military reinforcements have been observed from both sides, accompanied by intense mutual shelling throughout the past hours.
State media reports that the SDF targeted the Sheikh Taha neighborhood in Aleppo with artillery, as well as the Lairamoun area and Shihane roundabout with heavy machine guns. The Syrian Army claims to be working to secure civilians who wish to “escape the oppression of the SDF” within Aleppo’s neighborhoods, warning the SDF against targeting those attempting to leave through designated safe corridors.
Aleppo Governorate stated that the period for residents to exit the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh districts is between 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM local time. It added that two humanitarian corridors have been reopened to ensure the safe passage of civilians to secure areas, in coordination with the army.
Sources indicate that the Syrian Army has deployed heavy machinery, rocket launchers, and thermal units, including Shaheen units equipped with drones, after encircling the two districts and securing their residents. They suggest that a military resolution is increasingly likely if the truce is violated.
Government efforts have focused on securing safe passages for civilians, without announcing a large-scale ground advance into SDF-controlled areas.
The Syrian Civil Defense reports that it has evacuated over 3,000 civilians, mostly from the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh districts, through the Al-Awarid and Al-Zuhour Street points. They added that their teams provided first aid and transported families to centers.
