At least 12 killed as Aleppo shelling drives mass displacement

Aleppo clashes and civilian exodus

At least 12 people were reported killed during two days of heavy fighting between Syrian government forces and Kurdish fighters in Aleppo. The Syrian army shelled the predominantly Kurdish neighbourhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh after declaring them 'closed military areas', prompting tens of thousands of residents to flee. The government said the operation responded to attacks by armed groups and was aimed at preserving security, while the Kurdish-led SDF — which denies a military presence in Aleppo — called the move a 'criminal attempt' to forcibly displace people.

Displaced residents described chaotic conditions, with some sheltering in mosques and families fleeing because children could no longer endure the shelling. The clashes underscore political strains facing President Ahmad al-Sharaa's government since the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad, and follow a stalled March 2025 deal in which the SDF agreed in principle to integrate institutions into the Syrian state. Both sides accuse each other of undermining the agreement, and the standoff risks wider regional repercussions, including possible involvement by Turkey, which backs the government and regards the SDF as a terrorist organisation, as reported by BBC

This story has also been reported by: The Guardian, Al Jazeera