Aleppo Residents Ordered to Evacuate Amid Escalating Fighting with Kurdish Forces
Fighting between Syrian government forces and the US-backed Kurdish authorities in Syria has intensified in Aleppo, prompting the army to order civilians to evacuate three contested neighborhoods. The conflict, which began on Tuesday, has deepened tensions between the government and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a partner of US forces in their anti-Islamic State mission.
The SDF controls nearly a third of Syria's territory, including much of north-eastern Syria, where it has been based since 2012. However, disagreements over its future role in post-Assad Syria have stalled progress on integrating the force into the new Syrian army under an agreement signed last March.
According to sources, about 140,000 civilians have fled the conflict, with at least eight killed and dozens more wounded on both sides. The SDF denies having any fighters in the contested neighborhoods, which it claims are local self-defense forces. The Syrian government has accused the SDF of using civilians as human shields and shelling residential areas.
The escalation of violence marks a significant increase in fighting since December 2024, when the Assad regime fell from power. As clashes continue to erupt between the two sides, fears have grown that the conflict could spread to other areas.
A US state department official called for restraint on both sides, urging them to focus on building a stable Syria that protects the interests of all Syrians. The United States has been trying to balance its relationship with the SDF and the new authorities in Damascus, which it has become closer to.
Turkey also sees itself as caught between two opposing forces: the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) which Ankara considers a Syrian offshoot of the Kurdistan Workers' party (PKK), a separatist group it has fought against for four decades; and the Syrian government. The Turkish foreign minister described the SDF as "the biggest obstacle to peace in Syria," while Turkey's defense ministry announced plans to provide military aid to Damascus.
Humanitarian efforts are underway, with aid organizations opening shelters for displaced people fleeing the conflict. Many have sought refuge in mosques and churches due to the lack of resources for travel.
Fighting between Syrian government forces and the US-backed Kurdish authorities in Syria has intensified in Aleppo, prompting the army to order civilians to evacuate three contested neighborhoods. The conflict, which began on Tuesday, has deepened tensions between the government and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a partner of US forces in their anti-Islamic State mission.
The SDF controls nearly a third of Syria's territory, including much of north-eastern Syria, where it has been based since 2012. However, disagreements over its future role in post-Assad Syria have stalled progress on integrating the force into the new Syrian army under an agreement signed last March.
According to sources, about 140,000 civilians have fled the conflict, with at least eight killed and dozens more wounded on both sides. The SDF denies having any fighters in the contested neighborhoods, which it claims are local self-defense forces. The Syrian government has accused the SDF of using civilians as human shields and shelling residential areas.
The escalation of violence marks a significant increase in fighting since December 2024, when the Assad regime fell from power. As clashes continue to erupt between the two sides, fears have grown that the conflict could spread to other areas.
A US state department official called for restraint on both sides, urging them to focus on building a stable Syria that protects the interests of all Syrians. The United States has been trying to balance its relationship with the SDF and the new authorities in Damascus, which it has become closer to.
Turkey also sees itself as caught between two opposing forces: the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) which Ankara considers a Syrian offshoot of the Kurdistan Workers' party (PKK), a separatist group it has fought against for four decades; and the Syrian government. The Turkish foreign minister described the SDF as "the biggest obstacle to peace in Syria," while Turkey's defense ministry announced plans to provide military aid to Damascus.
Humanitarian efforts are underway, with aid organizations opening shelters for displaced people fleeing the conflict. Many have sought refuge in mosques and churches due to the lack of resources for travel.
this is getting outta hand in Aleppo. 140k people gotta flee from their homes? its like, whats next, whole city got evacs? dont get me wrong, SDF and govt are at each other throats but cant they just chill? 
how bout UN step in and sort this mess? turkey's got its own beef with the SDF too, feels like a regional conflict fest. 
140k people fleein and 8 dead already 
US is tryin to play peacemaker but its hard when ur stuck between turkey & the kurdish forces 
like what even is goin on here ?? cant we just have peace in syria for once 
This situation is so sad, 140k ppl have already left, but still more might need to go. The conflict is getting worse by the day & it's like we're watching history unfold 
. The US wants stability, Turkey sees the SDF as a problem... meanwhile, Syria just wants peace 
. Can't they all just get along? 
. We should be supporting humanitarian efforts, providing resources & aid to those affected 
.
. I mean, 140k people had to leave their homes because of fighting between these groups? It's crazy! 
What happened to the good old days when we could talk about culture and food instead of bombs and bullets? 
The US and Turkey are stuck in this mess too... it's like they're playing a game of geopolitical tug-of-war 
. And what about those poor civilians caught in the middle? 
.
and now turkey's getting involved too? i don't understand why they're so scared of the kurdish forces they seem like a good bunch to me...anyway gotta send my thoughts out to those affected by this conflict
because of all this fighting between gov't forces and the Kurdish authorities! Like, can't they just make up already? 
Can't wait to see what happens next! 