• Peace
• Wed 12 2025

Aleppo Clashes as Syria and Kurdish-Led SDF Agree to Ceasefire

Fighting in Syria's Aleppo briefly intensified in late December before the Syrian government and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces reached an understanding to scale down violence. The clashes, which triggered civilian casualties and a temporary shutdown of public institutions, have underlined the precarious security situation in northern Syria and the unresolved dispute on the future integration of Kurdish forces into the Syrian state.

On December 22, fighting broke out between in Aleppo’s Kurdish-populated Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyah neighborhoods. Syria's state news agency SANA said the Syrian army accused the SDF of initiating a surprise assault on government positions; Syrian forces responded with tank and artillery fire. The Syrian Health Ministry said at least two civilians died, and several more were injured by shelling that struck the residential districts of Al-Jamilia and Al-Razi. The SDF denied the reports, in turn blaming Damascus for targeting civilian areas.

Later on the same day, SANA reported that the general command of the Syrian army ordered a halt in fire against positions held by SDF. The SDF later issued a statement saying it too would cease responding to government attacks-the first sign of a temporary de-escalation.Though the ceasefire reinstated relative calm, analysts establish that it does not resolve the root political and military disagreements between both sides.

The clashes coincided with an official visit to Damascus by the Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, who said Ankara sees “no intention” by the SDF to integrate into Syria’s state security institutions.

Various reports suggest that Damascus has recently offered to integrate approximately 50,000 SDF fighters into a number of Syrian army divisions and brigades. It would also provide the Syrian government forces with access to the SDF-held territories, as long as the latter were to compromise on part of its command authority. Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani confirmed that the government had received a response from the SDF and that it was “currently being studied.”

An ardent advocate of the SDF's disarmament and full integration, Turkey regards the group as an extension of Kurdish militancy considered by it a security threat. Ankara has also expanded cooperation with Damascus through arms supplies and military training in a move widely viewed as increasing pressure on Kurdish forces. In the meantime, the US continues to look upon the SDF as a very important partner in the fight against ISIS, which develops a complex diplomatic effort toward reshaping the security landscape in Syria.a

Security experts view the Aleppo clashes as a pointer to entrenched suspicion between the Syrian government and the SDF. Confidence-building measures are nearly entirely absent, analysts note, and a forced or hurried integration might create instability in northern Syria.

Some analysts have looked at Turkey's role as escalatory, blaming Ankara for exploiting the interior divisions in Syria to undermine Kurdish autonomy.

Conclusion While the Aleppo ceasefire has momentarily pushed back hostilities, it has failed to resolve the very basic issues of Kurdish autonomy, military integration, and foreign influence in Syria. The stability of Syria continues to remain tied to negotiations over the balance of competing interests by Damascus, the SDF, and regional powers-especially Turkey. Without sustained dialogue and international mediation, the risk of renewed clashes in northern Syria remains high.