A deadly exchange of fire rocked the northern Syrian city of Aleppo on Monday, December 22, 2025, resulting in civilian casualties and prompting a war of words between opposing factions. The incident underscores the fragile and volatile security situation in regions outside central government control.
According to a report from Syria’s official state news agency, SANA, mortar and rocket shelling originating from the US-backed, Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) struck several neighborhoods within Aleppo. The agency stated that the bombardment resulted in one civilian fatality.
In a separate communiqué, the SDF presented a contrasting narrative. While not directly acknowledging the state media’s casualty report, the force confirmed that a clash had occurred and reported that five civilians were wounded by the violence. Each side attributed the initiation of hostilities to the other, leaving the precise catalyst for the escalation unclear.
The skirmishes are reported to have erupted in districts of Aleppo with significant Kurdish populations, areas that have historically been flashpoints amidst Syria’s complex geopolitical landscape. The SDF, which controls large territories in northeastern Syria, often finds itself in a precarious position, opposed by both the Damascus government and neighboring Turkey.
This event highlights the ongoing tensions that persist despite a relative calmer period in the decade-long conflict, serving as a stark reminder that the Syrian civil war, though diminished in scale, continues to simmer with localized outbreaks of violence that threaten civilian lives.