Aleppo: The PKK/YPG terrorist group, operating under the name of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), has shelled residential neighborhoods in Aleppo, northern Syria, for the third consecutive day. This development comes as the Syrian army prepares to launch military operations against SDF positions in the city.
According to Anadolu Agency - English, SDF forces targeted the Lairamoun area and the Shihan traffic circle in Aleppo using machine-gun fire early Thursday. This attack is part of a series of SDF assaults in Aleppo, resulting in at least six fatalities and 39 injuries since Tuesday. Civil defense teams and internal security forces have been actively evacuating civilians from the Ashrafieh and Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhoods through Al-Zohour Street due to the ongoing SDF attacks.
The conflict has led to the displacement of more than 3,000 civilians in the area. In response to the escalating violence, the Syrian army announced plans to initiate military operations against SDF positions in the Ashrafieh, Sheikh Maqsoud, and Bani Zeid neighborhoods of Aleppo at 13:30 local time (10:30 GMT).
According to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), a curfew has been imposed in the three districts as a precautionary measure ahead of the planned operations, with residents instructed to remain indoors. The provincial administration in Aleppo has also extended the suspension of classes at public and private educational institutions due to the ongoing conflict.
The conflict has been exacerbated by the recent tensions between the Syrian government and the SDF. On March 10, the Syrian presidency announced an agreement for the SDF's integration into state institutions, emphasizing the country's territorial unity and rejecting attempts at division. However, Syrian authorities have expressed frustration, stating that the SDF has not shown any efforts to comply with the agreement's terms.
The Syrian government has intensified its efforts to maintain security nationwide since the ouster of Bashar al-Assad's regime on December 8, 2024, after 24 years in power.