A tenuous calm has settled over northern Aleppo following a ceasefire agreement between Syrian government forces and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), though mutual accusations of violations threaten to unravel the fragile truce just days after it took effect.
According to reporting by Enab Baladi, the neighborhoods of Ashrafiyeh and Sheikh Maqsoud entered a state of relative stability after both sides agreed to halt hostilities on Tuesday evening, October 7. However, strict security measures imposed by government forces remain in place, and military positions on both sides show signs of heightened readiness.
A military source within the government forces, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the area is currently stable with no active clashes or significant military movements. "Any violation of the ceasefire would be met with an immediate response," the source warned, adding that troops remain on high alert as SDF positions "show signs of readiness."
Civilian movement remains severely restricted, with residents permitted to pass only through the Zahour checkpoint in New Siryan and the Sheihan roundabout. The strategically important Awarid and Ashrafiyeh checkpoints remain closed due to their proximity to frontlines that witnessed intense fighting on October 6. Officials indicated that efforts are underway to gradually reopen closed checkpoints once security coordination between the two sides improves.
Despite the ceasefire, tensions remain high. On Wednesday evening, state-run Al-Ikhbariya TV reported that SDF fighters had deployed mortar launchers at several sites within Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh, describing a state of elevated alert in both neighborhoods. The report came just one day after the truce was announced, highlighting the fragility of the agreement.
The situation grew more contentious when Syria's Ministry of Defense accused the SDF of violating the ceasefire less than 48 hours after it was signed. According to the ministry's Information and Communication Directorate, SDF forces targeted Syrian army positions near the Tishrin Dam, east of Aleppo, killing one soldier and wounding several others. The ministry claimed more than ten ceasefire violations occurred within two days, with attacks on army positions along eastern Aleppo frontlines.
The Syrian Democratic Forces swiftly denied these accusations in a Facebook statement, asserting instead that a Damascus government-affiliated armed group had attempted to infiltrate one of its positions near the Tishrin Dam using hand grenades. The SDF stated that its fighters repelled the attack, killing one assailant while others fled, and characterized its response as legitimate self-defense necessary to protect civilians and preserve regional stability.
The original clashes erupted on Monday, October 6, involving sniper fire and mortar shelling that reached civilian-populated areas before the ceasefire was brokered. Local residents have expressed deep concerns that renewed tensions could trigger another round of fighting, particularly as underlying security and administrative disputes in Aleppo's northern districts remain unresolved.