Four killed in clashes between Syrian govt forces and Kurdish fighters in Aleppo

ALEPPO — At least four people were killed on Tuesday in fresh clashes between Syrian government forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in northern neighbourhoods of Aleppo, with both sides accusing each other of initiating the violence.

The fighting underscores ongoing tensions as efforts to integrate the SDF into the national army remain stalled.

The predominantly Kurdish districts of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyah have seen intermittent clashes in recent months. State-run media outlet SANA reported that one Syrian soldier was killed and three others wounded in an SDF attack near the Sheihan Roundabout.

Later reports from state television claimed three civilians, including two women, were killed in SDF shelling of residential areas, with additional injuries including children and employees at the Aleppo Agriculture Directorate.

The SDF denied responsibility for targeting civilians, instead alleging that government-affiliated factions shelled Kurdish neighborhoods, resulting in civilian deaths, including one resident killed in a reported drone strike.

Accusations and casualties

Government side blamed the SDF for starting the fighting, reporting one soldier killed, multiple wounded, and up to three civilian deaths from shelling, while the SDF accused government forces of aggression, claiming civilian casualties in Sheikh Maqsoud and nearby areas, including women and children wounded or killed.

Sources including AFP and Al Jazeera confirmed at least four deaths overall.

The violence comes amid frustration over the implementation of a March 2025 agreement between President Ahmed al-Sharaa and SDF commander Mazloum Abdi to merge the Kurdish-led forces' military and administrative structures into the central government by the end of 2025.

Recent talks in Damascus, including a meeting on January 5, yielded no tangible progress, with disagreements persisting over issues like decentralization - a key SDF demand rejected by Damascus.

Turkey, a close ally of the new Syrian government, views the SDF as linked to the PKK terrorist group and has pressured for full integration. Some factions in the Syrian army, formerly Turkish-backed rebels, have historical animosities toward Kurdish forces.

Previous clashes in Aleppo occurred in late December 2025, highlighting the fragility of the post-Assad transition following the rebel ouster of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024.