QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Kurdish Internal Security Forces (Asayish) in Aleppo said factions affiliated with Syria’s transitional government carried out a new military escalation on Tuesday evening against the Kurdish neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh, despite a declared state of de-escalation.
According to Asayish, an explosive-laden drone targeted the al-Shaqif area, while tank and artillery fire struck the Castello axis. The shelling later expanded to Ashrafiyeh and the vicinity of al-Sharqi Mosque, alongside reported tank deployments around residential areas.
The SDF Media Center said the death toll among civilians rose to four, with at least 30 wounded—most of them women and children—after hours of artillery and tank shelling.
It added that the bombardment was ongoing, accusing the attacking factions of turning densely populated neighborhoods into battle zones and showing “blatant disregard” for civilian lives.
The SDF further reported the forced eviction of residents from the al-Suryan neighborhood, where snipers were deployed and tanks positioned. Heavy weapons, including Grad rockets, were used in what it described as a clear violation of ceasefire agreements.
Local casualty figures indicated four civilian deaths and 38 injuries in Sheikh Maqsoud, in addition to two wounded Asayish members. Syrian state media reported three civilian deaths and 10 injuries in government-held neighborhoods.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said the transitional government temporarily suspended flights at Aleppo International Airport due to clashes between its forces and the SDF in Sheikh Maqsoud, Ashrafiyeh, and Bani Zaid. School attendance across Aleppo city was also suspended amid deteriorating security conditions.
International reactions followed. UN Secretary-General spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said the UN had noted rising tensions and a lack of progress in talks between Damascus and the SDF, stressing the need for continued dialogue and unified security arrangements “for the sake of all Syrians.”
U.S. Senator Jim Risch urged both sides to de-escalate, warning that continued violence benefits “bad actors” such as ISIS and Iran.
Hevin Suleiman, Co-Chair of the Kurdish Neighborhoods Council in Aleppo city, accused Damascus-affiliated factions of pursuing a policy of depopulation, saying the escalation undermines negotiations linked to the March 10 agreement.
Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh, home to about 500,000 civilians, have repeatedly come under fire. In late December 2025, tank and artillery shelling by Damascus-affiliated factions killed and wounded civilians and damaged vital infrastructure, prompting temporary displacement and mediation efforts. A similar escalation in October 2025 saw sustained bombardment and sniper deployments around the neighborhoods.
During the years of Assad’s rule, the neighborhoods – largely administered by local councils and Asayish forces – went through prolonged sieges, restrictions on food and medical supplies, and repeated shelling. Despite ceasefire understandings, the areas have remained vulnerable to periodic escalations, with civilians bearing the brunt of the violence.