Clashes resume in Aleppo as talks to integrate Kurdish S.D.F. stall

Fighting resumed in the northern city of Aleppo between Syrian government forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces after two days of deadly clashes that closed schools, government offices and an airport. Since the violence began, at least four civilians have been killed in government-held areas, health officials in Aleppo said, and SANA, the state news agency, reported one soldier killed.

The S.D.F. said seven civilians had been killed in the two neighborhoods it controls and did not disclose whether any combatants had died. Residents, SANA and the S.D.F. said exchanges of fire resumed after a brief lull, with each side blaming the other. The government said it had imposed a curfew on the two neighborhoods and, according to SANA, declared that all S.D.F.

military positions there would be considered legitimate targets and warned people to stay away. State media said authorities had opened two humanitarian corridors for people to leave the Kurdish-majority neighborhoods. The clashes come as efforts to integrate the S.D.F. into the national military have stalled.

In March, President Ahmed al-Sharaa and S.D.F. leader Mazloum Abdi signed an agreement to integrate the Kurdish-led forces by the end of 2025, but efforts to put the deal into effect have stalled and brief clashes have regularly broken out. Negotiations have been partly facilitated by the United States.

Key Topics

World, Syrian Democratic Forces, Aleppo, Syrian Government, Mazloum Abdi, Ahmed Al-sharaa