Ceasefire Reached in Aleppo After Deadly Clashes: Syrian State Media

Syrian government forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have agreed to a ceasefire in Aleppo, state media reported on Tuesday, following an escalation of violence in the northern city.

• Location: Aleppo, northern Syria
• Ceasefire announcement: Tuesday, via state media
• Conflict parties: Syrian government forces vs Kurdish-led SDF

On Monday, at least one member of Syria’s domestic security forces and a civilian were killed in bombardments attributed to Kurdish forces, according to Syrian state television.

The violence came amid rising tensions between Damascus and the semi-autonomous Kurdish administration in northern and northeastern Syria.

Escalation Details

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based watchdog, reported that government forces had employed explosive drones in the Kurdish-majority districts of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh. Communications in these areas were reportedly cut, and the districts were surrounded by Syrian army reinforcements.

Since the ousting of former leader Bashar al-Assad in December, Aleppo has been under the administration of Syria’s new Islamist authorities. However, Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh remain under the control of Kurdish units linked to the SDF, the de facto army of the Kurdish administration.

The Syrian News Channel, citing a security official, reported that a member of domestic security forces was killed and three others were wounded in an SDF attack near Sheikh Maqsoud, while a civilian died in a Kurdish bombardment.

Aleppo’s governor, Azzam al-Gharib, urged residents to remain indoors and avoid “zones with clashes.” The state news agency SANA confirmed that several wounded civilians were taken to hospital.

Later reports from SANA indicated that the two sides had reached a ceasefire agreement in both neighbourhoods, although further details were not provided.

The SDF denied attacking government security forces and accused pro-Damascus factions of laying siege to Kurdish neighbourhoods, attempting to advance “with tanks.” They stated that residents had armed themselves to assist the Asayish, the Kurds’ domestic security force, in defending the districts.

The ceasefire provides a temporary respite, but the fragile security situation in Aleppo highlights the continuing tension between Syrian government forces and Kurdish-led authorities in the city.