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The armed forces carried out attacks following Kurdish groups’ refusal to comply with what they described as orders to “surrender.” The Syrian administration has been attempting to bring together various factions since coming into power a year back.

The city of Aleppo in Syria onceonce more turned into a battlefieldon Friday following Kurdish groups refusing to withdraw from their positions.

Government forces targeted the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiya areas, which have been under Kurdish control since the beginning of the conflict that started in 2011.

Despite claims by Kurdish fighters that they have already departed the city, Kurdish security forces continue to be stationed there.

What caused the conflict between the Syrian military and Kurdish groups in Aleppo?

The Syrian Ministry of Defense declared a truce that took effect during the night into Friday, urging Kurdish forces to evacuate the city and relocate to other regions under Kurdish control.

However, Kurdish forces dismissed what they referred to as “an appeal for capitulation,” stating that they would “protect their communities.”

Several hours later, the Defense Ministry stated that the withdrawal deadline had expired and that the military would seize control of the districts through force.

It mentioned that it had conducted attacks on sites utilized by Kurdish forces to target the “residents of Aleppo.”

Kurdish security forces claimed that some of the attacks targeted a hospital, alleging that the military committed a war crime. The Defense Ministry stated that the location had served as an arms storage facility.

On Saturday morning, the Syrian military stated that they had thoroughly searched the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood, suggesting that their forces had gained control of the region.

In a message shared on X, the Syrian military stated that the sole remaining choice for those opposing it “is to promptly hand over themselves and their arms to the closest military location in return for assurances regarding their lives and individual security.”

The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) rejected the Syrian army’s account of the situation, calling it “false and deceptive.”

What is the current state of Aleppo in Syria?

Aleppo hosts one of the numerous fault lines that the government led by President Ahmad al-Sharaa, following Assad’s rule, must deal with.

Recent clashes in the city havedisplaced over 140,000 people and murdered at least nine civilians.

The primary faction within the coalition of armed groups forming the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) — a U.S.-supported entity that played a crucial role in combating the so-called Islamic State (IS) — consists of Kurdish forces.

The newly formed Syrian administration has entered into a pact with the SDF to incorporate their troops into the Defense Ministry by the conclusion of 2025, although minimal advancements have been achieved.

France and the United States have been attempting to act as mediators in the current scenario, with a representative informing Reuters news agency that the focus has been on securing an agreement that would allow Kurdish forces to withdraw while ensuring safeguards for Kurds who stay in the city.

A statement from the French Foreign Ministry mentioned that President Emmanuel Macron called on Sharaa on Thursday to show restraint and emphasized France’s dedication to a unified Syria, where every part of Syrian society is included and safeguarded.

Edited by: Dmytro Hubenko, Karl Sexton

Writer: Kieran Burke, Alex Berry (with Reuters, AFP)