The Syrian army began shelling Kurdish-held neighborhoods in northern Aleppo on Wednesday, following the expiration of a deadline given to residents to evacuate the area.
A group of civilians carry bags and belongings as they flee following renewed clashes between the Syrian army and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), in Aleppo, Syria, January 7, 2026. Reuters/Karam al-Masri
The Syrian army began shelling Kurdish-held neighborhoods in northern Aleppo on Wednesday, following the expiration of a deadline given to residents to evacuate the area.
Syrian armed forces had previously declared that these two districts, controlled by Kurdish forces, would be designated as a "military zone" effective Wednesday.
The bombardment marks a significant escalation in tensions between Damascus and Kurdish-controlled territories in northern Syria. The artillery strikes come after authorities issued evacuation orders to civilians in the targeted neighborhoods, though the exact timeframe given to residents remains unclear.
The Kurdish-held districts have long been a point of contention in Syria's complex conflict, with multiple factions vying for control over strategic territories in and around Aleppo, one of the country's largest cities.
The decision to classify these neighborhoods as military zones signals the Syrian government's intent to reassert control over areas that have remained outside its direct authority throughout much of the ongoing conflict.
As artillery fire pounds the Kurdish quarters, concerns are mounting about the fate of civilians who may have been unable or unwilling to flee their homes before the deadline expired.
The situation remains fluid, with the potential for further military operations as Damascus seeks to consolidate its territorial gains in northern Syria.
The Syrian army launched new strikes in parts of Aleppo on Thursday after ordering residents to evacuate, accusing the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) of using Kurdish-majority areas to launch attacks as clashes entered a third day.
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