Clashes in Aleppo have resulted in the death of a Syrian internal security officer and injuries to three others, including civilians.
Published On 7 Oct 2025
Following violent confrontations in Aleppo, the Syrian military and the US-supported Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have agreed to a ceasefire in two city districts. This truce comes after an SDF assault on a Syrian security checkpoint resulted in the death of one security personnel.
According to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), the clashes in the northern Aleppo neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud and Al-Ashrafieh left three members of Syria’s Internal Security Forces wounded, alongside several civilians.
Reports from local security sources relayed to SANA describe the fighting as intense, involving mortar fire and heavy machine gun exchanges, with SDF snipers reportedly positioned on rooftops within the contested areas.
The outbreak of hostilities followed a statement from the Syrian Defence Ministry clarifying that recent troop movements along multiple fronts with the Kurdish-led SDF in northeastern Syria were routine redeployments rather than new military offensives.
Contradicting these claims, SDF spokesperson Farhad Shami denied any involvement in attacks on checkpoints within Aleppo, asserting that the group does not maintain a presence in Sheikh Maqsoud or Al-Ashrafieh. He further accused Syrian government forces of attempting to penetrate Kurdish-controlled districts using armored vehicles and called for the removal of what he termed a government-imposed siege on the city, warning that such military actions would exacerbate the hardships faced by local inhabitants.
In response to the escalating violence, Aleppo’s Governor Azzam al-Gharib urged residents to remain indoors and avoid the conflict zones. He emphasized ongoing efforts with relevant authorities to de-escalate tensions and halt the fighting, assuring that the Syrian military does not intend to escalate the situation further.
Reuters, citing SANA, confirmed that a ceasefire agreement has been established in the affected neighborhoods.
The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that communication lines in these districts have been severed and that Syrian army reinforcements have encircled the areas.
These recent clashes have cast uncertainty over a significant agreement reached in March aimed at integrating the SDF into Syria’s official institutions. This landmark deal, facilitated by the United States following the collapse of the Bashar al-Assad regime in December, envisions Kurdish-led forces becoming part of state structures and transferring control of strategic assets-including border crossings, an airport, and energy fields-to Damascus by year-end.
However, progress has stalled amid mutual accusations of provocations between Damascus and the SDF, each blaming the other for heightening tensions.
Meanwhile, Washington has urged the Kurdish forces to expedite negotiations for integration under mutually acceptable terms, while Turkey has criticized the SDF for delaying the process and threatened military intervention should the group fail to comply with the agreement.
In a related development, Syria recently conducted its first parliamentary elections since the fall of the al-Assad regime, marking a pivotal moment in the nation’s fragile post-conflict transition. Approximately 6,000 members of regional electoral colleges participated in selecting candidates from pre-approved lists to fill nearly two-thirds of the new 210-seat legislature. The remaining third of the seats will be appointed by President Ahmed al-Sharaa.
