Kurdish neighborhoods in Aleppo remain under siege despite halt in clashes
ALEPPO, Syria (North Press) – The situation in Aleppo’s Kurdish-majority neighborhoods remains tense and unsettling despite the recent cessation of clashes, as government-affiliated forces tighten security measures and maintain a siege that continues to restrict residents’ daily lives, Nuri Sheikho, co-chair of Kurdish Neighborhoods Council in Aleppo city, northwestern Syria, said on Monday.
Sheikh told North Press that forces affiliated with the Syrian transitional government have recently established ten new military posts equipped with heavy weapons around the Kurdish neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh, encircling them from all sides — north, east, south, and west. Roving patrols have also increased outside joint checkpoints.
He added that seven of the main crossings into the neighborhoods remain closed, while only three have been reopened following the truce. “The siege continues, and residents still face daily harassment, including verbal abuse, arbitrary arrests, and the searching of women’s bags.”
“The Kurdish neighborhoods have become something akin to an open-air prison,” Sheikho warned. “Although clashes have stopped, tension and incitement persist, leaving people fearful of another outbreak of violence.”
On Monday, a group of gunmen wearing black clothing and masks arrived in a white pickup truck at the al-Zira’a park entrance in the vicinity of Sheikh Maqsoud and physically assaulted and insulted several young Kurds, accusing them of “collaborating with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).”
Sheikho stressed the importance of “resorting to dialogue instead of weapons,” noting that communication channels with the Syrian government are still open but “have yet to yield any tangible results.”
The two Kurdish-majority neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh remain under a strict blockade imposed by the Syrian transitional government, worsening daily hardships for residents who struggle to access food, medicine, and basic necessities.
On Oct. 6, 2025, the two neighborhoods experienced clashes between the Kurdish Asayish forces and the security forces of the transitional government after the latter closed all entrances to the neighborhoods, preventing anyone from entering or leaving. The clashes led to the injury of at least 15 people of the Kurds who suffered suffocation after government forces used tear gas.
In April 1, 2025, the SDF withdrew its military forces from the neighborhoods following an agreement reached between the Civil Council of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh and the Syrian transitional government. The deal recognized the neighborhoods’ distinct security, administrative, and service status and established a framework for cooperation with relevant institutions in Aleppo to safeguard stability and ensure the continuation of local governance and essential services.