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Conflict between the government and Kurdish troops in a disputed region of northern Aleppo escalated on Thursday following an order for residents to leave the area.

Syrian officials established a passage for residents to leave for the second consecutive day, with tens of thousands departing the city.

The authorities in Aleppo province instructed residents to evacuate by 1 pm local time, in cooperation with the military.

The state news agency SANA, quoting the army, stated that the military would start “targeted operations” against the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the areas of Sheikh Maqsoud, Achrafieh, and Bani Zaid thirty minutes after the deadline.

The armed forces subsequently released a set of maps indicating the regions under evacuation mandates.

Over 142,000 individuals have been forced to leave their homes throughout the province, as reported by the Aleppo Central Response Committee.

“A significant number of them face serious health problems, including the elderly, women, and children,” stated Mohammad Ali, the operations director of the Syrian Civil Defence in Aleppo.

Kurdish forces stated that at least 12 civilians died in Kurdish-majority neighborhoods, while government officials said at least nine civilians were killed in the nearby government-controlled regions during the conflict that started on Tuesday.

Many more on both sides have been injured. It remained uncertain how many combatants were killed on either side.

Both sides have blamed each other for intentionally attacking residential areas and facilities, such as emergency services and medical centers.

Tensions escalated in the afternoon, marked by ongoing shelling and drone attacks, with tanks observed moving into the disputed areas. The Internal Security Forces, aligned with the SDF, reported that they had “destroyed two armored vehicles and caused injuries to the attackers” during their advance.

On Thursday evening, Aleppo governor Azzam al-Gharib stated that “a significant number” of SDF fighters had abandoned their positions or escaped, with security forces getting ready to move into the region.

Political impasse

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

The administration in Damascus, led by interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, reached an agreement with the SDF in March, which governs a significant portion of the northeast, to integrate with the Syrian army by the end of 2025.

There have been disputes regarding the process. In April, numerous SDF fighters departed Sheikh Maqsoud and Achrafieh as part of the agreement.

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 constitute the new Syrian army, established following the overthrow of former President Bashar al-Assad during a rebel attack in December 2024, were once insurgent organizations supported by Turkey, with a prolonged record of conflict against Kurdish forces.

International concerns

For many years, the SDF has served as the primary US ally in Syria in the fight against the so-called Islamic State (IS) group, yet Turkey designates the SDF as a terrorist organization due to its ties with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which conducted a prolonged conflict in Turkey. A peace initiative is currently being pursued.

Although the US has consistently supported the SDF, the Trump administration 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.”

It mentioned that U.S. envoy Tom Barrack is attempting to promote communication between the two parties.

“All parties need to concentrate on creating a peaceful and stable Syria that safeguards and benefits the interests of all Syrians, instead of driving the nation back into a cycle of violence,” the statement mentioned.