ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Authorities controlling the predominantly Kurdish neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsood and Ashrafiyeh in Syria’s northern city of Aleppo have warned that fighting could resume - and civilians face the risk of a “massacre” - unless a siege imposed by Damascus is lifted and normal life restored.
Clashes broke out on Monday between Kurdish Asayish forces and Syrian government troops and allied factions in the two Kurdish neighborhoods, killing at least two people, including 57-year-old Fadwa Muhammad al-Kurdi, and injuring more than a dozen others. Among the wounded were a young girl and six members of the Kurdish internal security forces, according to the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
After several hours of heavy fighting, the Syrian government and the SDF agreed to a ceasefire.
“The Syrian government initiated the fighting,” said Nouri Sheikho, co-chair of the General Council of the Sheikh Maqsood and Ashrafiyeh neighborhoods, speaking to Rudaw on Tuesday.
He warned that “there is a strong possibility that clashes will resume and a genocide may occur, as no one is allowed to enter our neighborhoods due to the siege.”
“The state forces were defeated, and a ceasefire followed in order to begin talks,” Sheikho added. “However, the fighting could reignite, as they have not adhered to their promises.”
Since the collapse of the former Assad regime last year, Kurdish-led forces - which maintain security control over the two densely populated neighborhoods, home to more than 1.5 million people - have repeatedly clashed with the new authorities in Damascus.
“The Syrian government’s problem with our neighborhoods is not new,” Sheikho said. “What happened yesterday is a continuation of unresolved post-conflict complications.”
He claimed the fighting was premeditated, alleging that Damascus launched a media campaign portraying Sheikh Maqsood and Ashrafiyeh as threats to the Syrian state.
“They intended to invade both neighborhoods, but our security forces repelled them,” he said. “The fighting was extremely intense - weapons were used as if this were a conflict between two states. Tanks were deployed.”
Sheikho said Kurdish security forces resisted for more than five hours with the support of residents. “The attack was defeated. We demonstrated historic resistance,” he said.
Hevin Sulaiman, co-chair of the neighborhoods’ council, echoed the warning that clashes could resume, also stating that Damascus initiated the violence.
In a statement, the SDF released videos it said show Syrian government forces withdrawing from a joint checkpoint with Kurdish forces shortly before the clashes erupted.
The SDF also shared footage it claims depicts Syrian troops shelling the neighborhoods with tanks and artillery, describing the assault as “premeditated” and aimed at paving the way for a planned attack.