DAMASCUS, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian army and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) traded accusations on Wednesday amid escalating tensions in the predominantly Kurdish neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh in the northern city of Aleppo.
In a statement, the SDF accused government forces of launching heavy-weapons attacks on the areas, saying its security units were engaged in what it described as "fierce resistance" to repel the assault.
The Syrian army denied the allegations, saying it did not launch any advance operations toward areas controlled by the SDF, and its forces were continuing efforts to ensure the safe evacuation of residents from the two neighborhoods.
Instead, the army accused the SDF of targeting civilians attempting to leave the two neighborhoods to prevent their departure.
The Syrian army had earlier urged residents of the two neighborhoods to evacuate via designated humanitarian corridors before 3:00 p.m. local time, when a curfew would take effect. Syria's Civil Defense reported that more than 2,324 civilians had been evacuated by 2:40 p.m.
The Interior Ministry said in a separate statement that internal security forces in Aleppo took urgent field measures to protect civilians following what it described as indiscriminate shelling of residential neighborhoods by the SDF. Measures included establishing security cordons, organizing evacuations, and opening humanitarian crossings.
The latest developments mark a sharp escalation in Aleppo after days of intermittent clashes, drone strikes and shelling between government forces and SDF-linked units, despite ongoing political talks aimed at military integration under a March 2025 agreement brokered with international backing.
While both sides have expressed commitment to continued dialogue, repeated flare-ups underscored the fragile security situation and the risks facing civilians in contested urban areas. Enditem
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