Lethal combat erupted in Northern Syria on Tuesday, shattering a fragile truce and leaving at least four people dead. The renewed Aleppo violence has forced authorities to shut down critical infrastructure, including the city’s airport.
This fresh outbreak involves the central Syrian government and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Both sides are currently trading accusations regarding who fired the first shot.
Casualties and Citywide Shutdown
The fighting has exacted a swift toll on the local population. According to the state news agency SANA, three civilians and one army soldier were killed in the crossfire. Numerous others sustained injuries.
Consequently, the city has ground to a halt.
Aleppo Governor Azzam al-Gharib announced a suspension of all activities for Wednesday. This order affects schools, universities, and government departments.
Furthermore, aviation officials have taken drastic measures. The General Authority of Civil Aviation suspended all flights to and from the Aleppo airport for 24 hours. Incoming traffic will be rerouted to the capital, Damascus, until security evaluations are complete.
Blame Game Intensifies Over Shelling
Accounts of the skirmishes differ significantly depending on the source.
The Syrian defense ministry released a statement blaming the SDF for the escalation. They alleged that Kurdish forces targeted army positions and residential zones.
Conversely, the SDF denied these claims. They argued that the casualties resulted from “indiscriminate” artillery and missile fire by government-aligned factions.
Nouri Sheikho, a local official, confirmed that fighting restarted in the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh neighborhoods. He noted that residents are terrified of widespread killings.
Sheikho told reporters that “clashes had resumed… after a brief pause and that communication with the Damascus government was underway to bring a halt to the violence.”
He also accused government forces of deploying heavy weaponry, including tanks and rockets.
Integration Talks Hit a Wall
This surge in Aleppo violence highlights the failure of high-stakes political negotiations.
Officials have been scrambling to merge the U.S.-backed SDF with the central government’s army. This deal was intended to heal Syria’s deepest remaining fracture following the ouster of ex-President Bashar al-Assad over a year ago.
However, the deadline to implement this integration passed at the end of 2025.
Progress has stalled. The SDF remains reluctant to surrender its autonomy. During 14 years of war, the group secured control over vital oil resources and Islamic State prisons.
Meanwhile, the collapse of these talks carries grave risks. Continued instability could invite intervention from Turkey, which views the Kurdish fighters as terrorists.
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