Turkey says Syria army leads Aleppo operation, Kurds voice civilian fears
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Turkey’s Defense Ministry said on Thursday that the military operation in Aleppo targeting the Kurdish neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh are being carried out solely by the Syrian army, stressing that Ankara is closely monitoring developments on the ground.
In a statement, the ministry said that “Syria’s security is our security,” adding that Turkey supports Syria’s efforts on the basis of its unity and territorial integrity, and would provide support if requested by Damascus.
The announcement comes amid escalating violence in the Kurdish neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh in Aleppo, where residents and local security forces report sustained shelling of residential areas, resulting in civilian casualties, damage to homes, and growing displacement.
Kurdish officials and rights groups have repeatedly stressed that the neighborhoods are civilian areas and do not pose a military threat, warning that continued military escalation risks collective punishment of residents who have already endured years of siege, shelling, and isolation.
Local sources told North Press that civilians, including women and children, remain trapped in the neighborhoods under difficult humanitarian conditions, as calls grow for de-escalation, protection of civilians, and a return to dialogue to prevent further bloodshed in Aleppo.