SDF, Damascus-affiliated groups trade accusations over clashes in Aleppo
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Clashes erupted overnight in the eastern countryside of Aleppo, northwestern Syria, between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and groups affiliated with the Syrian transitional government, with both sides trading accusations over responsibility for the escalation.
The SDF said in a statement on Thursday that its forces had “firmly repelled infiltration attempts and artillery attacks launched by unruly groups affiliated with the Damascus government in the Deir Hafer area,” stressing that the operations were “completely thwarted.”
The statement held the Syrian transitional government side “fully responsible” for the escalation, accusing it of frequent violations that “endanger public stability.”
The SDF reassured residents that “the situation is fully under control” and emphasized its commitment to defending the region and protecting civilians.
Meanwhile, the Syrian state-run news agency SANA reported that SDF forces shelled several villages in the eastern countryside of Aleppo. According to its correspondent, rocket and mortar attacks targeted civilian homes in the village of al-Kayyariyah, killing one civilian and injuring others, including a child.
SANA added that the SDF shelling also hit the outskirts of Khafsah town and homes in the village of Rasm al-Ahmar, east of Aleppo.
The conflicting accounts come amid recurring flare-ups in areas of contact between SDF-controlled territories and positions held by Syrian transitional government forces and their affiliated groups.
Clashes between the SDF and Damascus-affiliated groups in Aleppo countryside are not new. In recent months, both sides have reported repeated ceasefire violations along contact lines in the areas of Manbij, Deir Hafer, and Maskanah.
These confrontations often include infiltration attempts, artillery exchanges, and mutual accusations of targeting civilians, reflecting the fragile and contested nature of control in the region.