Afrin rights group says 51 civilians killed, wounded in Aleppo clashes
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – The Afrin Human Rights Organization said on Wednesday that ongoing military escalation in Kurdish neighborhoods of Aleppo has left 51 civilians killed or wounded, as clashes entered their second consecutive day.
In a statement, the organization said intermittent fighting continues between factions affiliated with the Ministry of Defense of the Syrian transitional government and the Kurdish Internal Security Forces (Asayish) around the neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud, Ashrafiyeh, Bani Zaid, and their surroundings, in what it described as a clear violation of a previously announced agreement.
The group reported that hours after midnight until early morning witnessed a renewed security escalation, marked by intermittent clashes involving heavy, medium, and light weapons, particularly around Sheikh Maqsoud and the al-Suryan area.
Local sources said the clashes were accompanied by intensive use of heavy weapons, while Asayish forces managed to foil infiltration attempts by the factions into the targeted neighborhoods.
According to the organization, the escalation caused extensive material damage, with around 130 homes partially destroyed in Sheikh Maqsoud, Ashrafiyeh, and Bani Zaid, in addition to damage to a number of commercial shops, further compounding residents’ suffering.
The Afrin Human Rights Organization said the casualty toll includes six civilians killed and 45 wounded, most of them women and children. The high number of injuries has placed severe pressure on medical facilities amid limited capabilities and shortages of essential supplies.
The group added that Osman Hospital in the Ashrafiyeh neighborhood was forced out of service after being targeted by factions affiliated with the Ministry of Defense.
The escalation comes as Aleppo continues to face difficult humanitarian conditions, raising growing concerns among civilians in the absence of any immediate signs of de-escalation.
Although they have long served as safe havens for thousands of displaced families from Afrin Kurds and across Syria, the Kurdish-majority neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud, Ashrafiyeh, and Bani Zaid 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.
Over the past decade, the neighborhoods have functioned as semi-autonomous areas within Aleppo, militarily protected by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Asayish, and administratively governed by a local civil council. These institutions oversaw service provision, security, and community affairs, while maintaining limited coordination with state institutions.
During the era of the Assad regime, the neighborhoods were subjected to repeated blockades and severe restrictions, particularly by the government’s Fourth Armored Division, which controlled surrounding checkpoints. The siege often prevented the entry of essential goods, including food, medicine, and fuel, creating acute humanitarian suffering among residents. Periodic tightening of the blockade was used as a pressure tool against the local administration and residents, who were largely independent from Damascus’ direct authority.
On Dec. 22, 2025, One woman was killed and at least 17 civilians were wounded after Damascus government-affiliated factions shelled the neighborhoods. Six Asayish members were also wounded in the attacks that involved rockets, tanks, and artillery targeting densely populated residential areas.
On Oct. 6, 2025, the neighborhoods experienced clashes between the Kurdish Asayish forces, that control the neighborhoods, 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.
Under the April 1 agreement between the Civil Council of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh and the Syrian transitional government, the SDF withdrew its military forces from the neighborhoods and handed them to the Asayish. 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.