Aleppo Kurdish council warns of escalating threats to Sheikh Maqsoud
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Hevin Suleiman, Co-Chair of the Kurdish Neighborhoods Council in Aleppo city, northwestern Syria, warned on Saturday of continued security threats targeting the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh neighborhoods, accusing factions affiliated with the transitional government’s Ministry of Defense of seeking to destabilize the area.
In a press conference in Sheikh Maqsoud, Suleiman said that for nearly four months, the armed factions have carried out ongoing movements aimed at spreading chaos, fear, and instability.
She added that these groups have been stationed around the two neighborhoods since recent attacks, deploying heavy weapons with the intent of launching further assaults.
“This is clear evidence that these groups do not want security and stability to prevail in Syria,” she said, adding that their actions constitute a violation of the March 10 agreement.
Suleiman said the factions view Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh as a “weak link,” waging what she described as a “special war” against the neighborhoods.
She stressed that the response by residents and the Internal Security Forces (Asayish) had been appropriate and within the framework of self-defense.
Rejecting accusations that the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) were responsible for attacks, Suleiman said the transition government is fully aware that, under the sixth clause of the April 1 agreement and in the presence of representatives from both sides, SDF forces withdrew from the neighborhoods with their military equipment toward North and East Syria.
The Kurdish official affirmed that security in Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh is maintained by the Asayish forces and the local population.
Suleiman noted to frequent violations of ceasefire and de-escalation agreements, saying the neighborhoods have been subjected to ongoing gunfire since Dec. 22, alongside constant surveillance by drones overhead.
“These actions show that their goal is not stability or reaching a lasting agreement,” she said, describing the attacks as illegitimate and alleging that the armed factions receive instructions from Turkey.
According to Suleiman, the factions aim to undermine security, spread false claims, and pressure residents into leaving the neighborhoods.
She concluded by saying that ongoing talks between Damascus and the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) are among the factors angering these groups, while “resistance will continue.”
The Kurdish-majority neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh in Aleppo continue to face a strict blockade imposed by the Syrian transitional government, deepening humanitarian challenges as residents struggle to secure food, medicine, and other basic necessities.
For more than a decade, the two neighborhoods have operated as semi-autonomous areas within Aleppo. Security has been maintained by the Internal Security Forces (Asayish), while local civil councils managed administrative affairs, service delivery, and community needs, alongside limited coordination with state institutions.
Under the former Assad government, Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh were repeatedly subjected to blockades and severe movement restrictions, primarily enforced by the Fourth Armored Division at surrounding checkpoints.
These measures frequently obstructed the entry of essential supplies, including food, fuel, and medical aid, leading to prolonged humanitarian hardship.
Observers say such restrictions were often used as a means of pressure against the local administration and residents, who remained largely outside Damascus’ direct control.