Dozens of people have been killed and wounded in heavy shelling and clashes in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo, as government forces advanced into several neighbourhoods following days of escalating violence.
Syrian state media reported that the army took control of parts of the Ashrafieh and Sheikh Maqsoud districts after clashes with the Syrian Democratic Forces, also known as the SDF. The advance was said to have taken place with the support of local residents and tribal groups, while fighting continued across the area.
State television said army and internal security forces were progressing in Ashrafieh after the SDF attempted a counterattack. Earlier, the military imposed a curfew on the Sheikh Maqsoud, Ashrafieh and Bani Zaid neighborhoods ahead of planned strikes against armed groups linked to the SDF.
A government source said residents in the three districts had begun handing over parts of their neighborhoods to state authorities, citing repeated defections among SDF members. Internal security forces were preparing to deploy and restore stability, the source added.
Aleppo governor Azzam Al-Gharib accused the SDF of using civilians as human shields and targeting homes, hospitals and public buildings. He urged residents to avoid crowded areas and limit movement to essential needs, saying authorities would continue efforts to protect civilians and hold those responsible accountable.
According to the Aleppo Central Emergency Response Committee, shelling on residential areas resulted in 12 deaths and 88 injuries. The committee said shells landed near humanitarian corridors during evacuation efforts, describing the incident as a violation of international law.
The SDF, meanwhile, said 12 people were killed and 64 wounded in what it described as Syrian army attacks on Ashrafieh and Sheikh Maqsoud. SDF commander Mazloum Abdi said he was working to stop the violence in Aleppo, warning that continued fighting and attempts to impose unilateral solutions were unacceptable.
Syrian authorities also said nearly 142,000 people have been displaced from Aleppo since the escalation began several days ago. Emergency officials confirmed that 12 temporary shelters have been opened, most of them inside the city, with additional centers in northern rural areas.
The latest clashes come despite an agreement signed in March between the Syrian government and the SDF aimed at integrating SDF-controlled civilian and military institutions into state structures. The deal has seen little progress, raising concerns about renewed instability in northern Syria.
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