The Syrian Ministry of Defence has officially declared a unilateral cessation of hostilities in multiple districts of Aleppo, effective from 3:00 am local time on Friday. This decision follows several days of intense combat between government forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) that resulted in at least 21 fatalities.
The ceasefire specifically covers the Sheikh Maqsoud, Alashrafieh, and Bani Zeid neighborhoods where the most severe fighting occurred. In an official statement, the Ministry cited concerns about “preventing any slide towards a new military escalation within residential neighbourhoods” as the primary motivation for the truce.
This outbreak of violence represents the most significant military confrontation in Aleppo since Syria’s current Islamist authorities assumed power. Both conflicting parties have exchanged accusations regarding which side initiated Tuesday’s clashes, which have disrupted a stalled agreement aimed at integrating Kurdish administrative and military structures into the central government.
The escalation has additionally highlighted complex regional tensions, particularly involving Turkey—a key Damascus ally—and Israel, which has formally condemned what it characterized as attacks targeting Kurdish populations. The timing of these clashes coincides with deteriorating progress on implementation of the Kurdish-government integration deal, suggesting deeper political challenges beyond immediate military concerns.