Syrian Army and US-Backed SDF Reach Truce in Aleppo Amid Rising Tensions:

Aleppo, Syria – The Syrian army and the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have reportedly agreed to a ceasefire in two key areas of Aleppo city after a deadly clash over the weekend escalated tensions in the region. According to reports from the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), the truce was reached in the Sheikh Maqsoud and Al-Ashrafieh neighborhoods, where fighting had erupted between the two sides. The violence began after an SDF attack on a Syrian security checkpoint resulted in the death of one Syrian officer. SANA reported that three members of Syria’s Internal Security Forces and several civilians were also wounded during the clashes, which saw the use of mortar shells and heavy machine guns. SDF snipers were also said to have taken up positions on rooftops in the contested neighborhoods. Tensions flared further after the Syrian Ministry of Defense announced that recent troop movements near Kurdish-controlled areas in northeastern Syria were part of a routine redeployment and not the beginning of a new offensive. However, the SDF viewed the redeployment as a provocation. Farhad Shami, a spokesperson for the SDF, denied that the group had forces in Sheikh Maqsoud and Al-Ashrafieh and rejected claims that SDF fighters were involved in any attack on Syrian army checkpoints. Instead, Shami accused pro-government forces of attempting to move tanks into Kurdish-held districts and called on Damascus to lift what he described as a siege on the Kurdish neighborhoods of Aleppo. He warned that continued military pressure would only worsen humanitarian conditions for civilians. In response to the fighting, Aleppo Governor Azzam al-Gharib urged residents to remain indoors and avoid areas where clashes were taking place. "We are working with relevant parties to de-escalate the situation and prevent further violence," he said, emphasizing that the Syrian military had no plans to escalate the conflict. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed the ceasefire, noting that communication lines in the affected neighborhoods were severed and that Syrian army reinforcements had surrounded the areas. The latest violence comes at a delicate moment in Syria’s political transition. In March, the SDF and Syria’s new post-Assad government signed a US-brokered deal aimed at integrating Kurdish-led forces into state institutions. The agreement included provisions to transfer control of border crossings, oil and gas fields, and airports to Damascus by the end of the year. However, progress on the deal has stalled, with both sides accusing each other of provocations. The United States has continued to push for faster integration under mutually agreed terms, while Turkiye has warned of possible military action if the SDF fails to fully cooperate with Damascus. Meanwhile, Syria held its first parliamentary elections since the fall of President Bashar al-Assad in December. Around 6,000 regional delegates voted from pre-approved candidate lists to fill nearly two-thirds of the 210-seat legislature. President Ahmed al-Sharaa is expected to appoint the remaining members soon. As Syria navigates its fragile post-war recovery, the recent clashes in Aleppo underscore the lingering mistrust between the Syrian army and Kurdish-led forces. The ceasefire may provide temporary relief, but lasting peace will likely depend on full implementation of the integration deal—and the political will of all sides involved.

NEWS