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Syrian officials urged residents to depart a disputed region in the northern city of Aleppo on Thursday, and established an exit route for them to flee for the second consecutive day as fighting persisted between government troops and Kurdish groups.

The authorities in Aleppo province have granted residents until 1 p.m. local time to leave, working together with the army. According to the state news agency SANA, which reported the army’s statement, military forces will start “targeted operations” against the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces in the areas of Sheikh Maqsoud, Achrafieh, and Bani Zaid thirty minutes after the deadline.

A reporter from Associated Press on the ground heard occasional explosions as residents fled the area on Thursday morning. By Wednesday, over 46,000 individuals had been forced to leave their homes throughout the province, as reported by Aleppo’s Directorate of Social Affairs and Labor.

The SDF stated that at least eight civilians died in Kurdish-majority areas, while government authorities reported at least five civilians and one soldier were killed in the nearby government-controlled regions during Tuesday’s clashes. Dozens of people on both sides have been injured.

Both sides have blamed each other for intentionally striking residential areas and facilities.

The conflicts occur during a deadlock in political talks between the central government and the SDF.

The administration in Damascus, led by interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, reached an agreement in March with the SDF, which oversees a significant portion of the northeastern region, to integrate into the Syrian army by the end of 2025. There have been disputes regarding the implementation process. In April, numerous SDF fighters departed from Sheikh Maqsoud and Achrafieh as part of the arrangement.

Government representatives from the central authority and the SDF convened once more on Sunday in Damascus, although officials from the government stated that no significant advancements were achieved.

Several groups that comprise the newly established Syrian army, which was created following the overthrow of former President Bashar Assad during a rebel attack in December 2024, were once insurgent organizations supported by Turkey with a prolonged record of conflict against Kurdish forces.

For many years, the SDF has served as the primary U.S. ally in Syria in the fight against the Islamic State group, yet Turkey labels the SDF as a terrorist entity due to its ties with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, which has conducted an extended rebellion within Turkey. A peace initiative is currently taking place.

Although the U.S. has maintained long-term support for the SDF, the Trump administration in the U.S. has also established strong connections with al-Sharaa’s government and has urged the Kurds to carry out the March agreement.

A representative from the U.S. Department of State mentioned in a statement on Thursday that the United States “is closely watching the situation” and called for “calm from all parties involved.” The statement noted that U.S. envoy Tom Barrack is working to promote communication between the two sides.

“All sides need to concentrate on creating a peaceful and stable Syria that safeguards and benefits the interests of every Syrian, instead of driving the nation back into a cycle of conflict,” the statement mentioned.

The Turkish Ministry of National Defense stated on Thursday that the “operation is being conducted solely by the Syrian Army,” with Turkey “closely observing” the situation.

The security of Syria is our security,” the statement mentioned, noting that “Turkey will offer the required assistance if Syria asks for it.

The United Nations has shown worry regarding the violent incidents.

A UN representative named Stéphane Dujarric informed journalists on Wednesday that Secretary General Antonio Guterres is “concerned about reports of civilian casualties and injuries after the fighting in Aleppo.”

“We urge all parties to immediately reduce tensions, show the greatest caution, and implement every possible action to avoid additional harm to civilians,” and to “quickly restart discussions to fully carry out the agreement from March 10,” he stated.