Intensive military operations have resumed in Aleppo following the collapse of a brief ceasefire on Friday, as the Syrian army escalates its offensive against the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the city's Kurdish-majority neighborhoods. The renewed violence has triggered a humanitarian crisis with significant civilian displacement and mounting casualties.
Military Operations Intensify
As of Saturday, January 10, fierce fighting has erupted across multiple neighborhoods as the Syrian army conducts large-scale military operations against SDF positions. The collapse of the ceasefire—which had been negotiated Friday morning—came after buses arrived to evacuate SDF fighters. According to sources, internal divisions within the SDF, with more radical factions resisting orders to disarm, contributed to the breakdown of the agreement.
The military offensive marks a critical escalation in the confrontation that has been unfolding since Tuesday in the city's Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh districts.
Sheikh Maqsoud Operations
Syrian military sources reported on Saturday that forces have completed clearing over 90% of the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood during ongoing operations. Military officials claim that forces have arrested several SDF members and seized substantial quantities of weapons, including heavy and medium weapons systems, large quantities of ammunition, light arms, and explosive devices.
However, the Internal Security Forces (affiliated with the SDF) have disputed these claims. In a statement released Saturday morning, they rejected government assertions regarding the control of Sheikh Maqsoud, describing the claims as "unfounded, misleading, and contrary to reality." The security forces reported that intense street-to-street fighting continues in the neighborhood's front lines, with their fighters inflicting heavy casualties
Photo: ANF