Ceasefire Declared in Aleppo After Deadly Clashes Between Syrian Forces and SDF
Truce follows three days of fighting that killed civilians, displaced tens of thousands and highlighted unresolved tensions over Kurdish autonomy
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Ceasefire took effect at 3 a.m. local time on Friday
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Fighting involved Syrian army and Kurdish-led SDF
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At least five civilians killed, 27 injured, says UN
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Around 30,000 people displaced from affected areas
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Violence linked to delayed SDF integration agreement
GG News Bureau
ALEPPO / UNITED NATIONS | 9th Jan: A ceasefire has taken effect in several neighborhoods of Syria’s northern city of Aleppo after days of intense fighting between Syrian government forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), authorities said on Friday.
Syria’s defence ministry announced that the unilateral truce began at 3 a.m. local time and applies to the Sheikh Maqsoud, Ashrafieh and Bani Zeid districts. Under the agreement, SDF-affiliated fighters are withdrawing while carrying only light personal weapons, while the Syrian army has pledged to provide safe passage toward northeastern Syria.
State media reported that government security forces have begun deploying in parts of Ashrafieh following initial withdrawals by SDF-linked units. The situation on the ground remained tense, with monitoring continuing to ensure the ceasefire holds.
The clashes erupted on January 6 and escalated over three days, involving artillery fire, shelling and ground assaults. Observers described the violence as the most severe fighting in Aleppo since the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024.
The humanitarian toll has been significant. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), at least five civilians — including two women and one child — were killed, and 27 others injured in Sheikh Maqsoud, Ashrafieh and surrounding areas as of January 7. OCHA estimates that nearly 30,000 people were displaced by the fighting.
More than 2,000 families have fled to the Afrin district, while around 1,100 people are sheltering in nine collective centers inside Aleppo. Several hospitals suspended operations due to insecurity, although humanitarian corridors have been opened to facilitate limited aid access.
The fighting is linked to delays in implementing a March 2025 agreement aimed at integrating the US-backed SDF into Syrian state institutions, underscoring unresolved disputes over Kurdish autonomy and local governance.
The United States has expressed grave concern over the escalation and urged all sides to de-escalate and protect civilians, warning that humanitarian needs are rising and the risk of renewed conflict remains high.
