ALEPPO, Syria — Deadly clashes erupted Tuesday in the contested northern neighborhoods of Aleppo between Syrian government forces and Kurdish-led fighters, underscoring the fragile progress in integrating the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces into the national military. At least one soldier and three civilians were reported killed in the violence, with both sides accusing each other of targeting residential areas and causing civilian casualties.
The skirmishes unfolded in the predominantly Kurdish districts of Sheikh Maqsoud and Achrafieh, areas that have seen intermittent fighting in recent months. According to Syria's state-run SANA news agency, a Syrian soldier was killed and three others wounded in an initial attack by the Syrian Democratic Forces, or SDF. State television later reported that three civilians, including two women, were killed and several others wounded, among them two children, in shelling of a residential area that officials blamed squarely on the SDF.
SANA also detailed additional impacts from the violence, stating that nine employees at the Aleppo Directorate of Agriculture were wounded when SDF shelling struck their office. The agency portrayed the incidents as unprovoked aggression amid ongoing efforts to unify the country's fractured armed groups under the interim government.
The SDF, however, vehemently denied responsibility for the civilian deaths in the shelling. In a statement, the group asserted that a shell fired by "factions affiliated with the Damascus government" had landed in the al-Midan neighborhood, with the intended target being the adjacent Kurdish Sheikh Maqsoud area. "This indiscriminate shelling constitutes a direct attack on residential areas and exposes the lives of civilians to grave danger," the SDF said.
Going further, the SDF claimed that a drone strike launched by government forces had killed one resident of Sheikh Maqsoud and wounded two children. It also reported that shelling in the nearby Bani Zaid neighborhood had resulted in the death of a woman and injuries to dozens of others. These specific allegations received no mention in state media reports, highlighting the divergent narratives emerging from the two sides.
The Tuesday clashes come at a tense moment in Syria's post-Assad transition. In March, under interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, Damascus signed a deal with the SDF, which controls much of the country's northeast, to merge its fighters into the Syrian army by the end of 2025. Yet, disagreements over the terms and process have stalled implementation. As part of the agreement, scores of SDF fighters withdrew from Sheikh Maqsoud and Achrafieh in April, a move intended to de-escalate tensions but which has not prevented sporadic violence.
Representatives from the central government and the SDF held talks in Damascus on Sunday, but officials from the government side described the discussions as yielding "no tangible progress." The SDF commands tens of thousands of fighters and represents the largest force slated for absorption into Syria's restructured military, making the integration a cornerstone of the country's stabilization efforts.
The new Syrian army itself is a patchwork of factions formed in the wake of former President Bashar Assad's ouster during a rebel offensive in December 2024. Some of these groups were previously backed by Turkey and have a history of hostilities with Kurdish forces. Turkey views the SDF as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, which it designates as a terrorist organization due to its decades-long insurgency within Turkish borders. Although a peace process between Turkey and the PKK is now underway, the longstanding animosities continue to complicate regional dynamics.
For years, the SDF has served as the primary partner to the United States in combating the Islamic State group in Syria, earning it international support and military aid. This alliance has often put it at odds with both the Assad regime and Turkish interests, contributing to the persistent friction in areas like Aleppo where control remains contested.
Local residents in the affected neighborhoods described a scene of chaos and fear. While specific witness accounts were not immediately available from the ground, the dueling claims from official sources paint a picture of crossfire that has repeatedly endangered non-combatants. The Aleppo Directorate of Agriculture incident, for instance, illustrates how even administrative targets can become collateral damage in the escalating exchanges.
Beyond the immediate toll, the clashes raise questions about the viability of the March integration deal. Government officials have expressed frustration over the lack of advancement, while SDF leaders have emphasized the need for guarantees on autonomy and security in Kurdish-majority regions. The absence of progress in Sunday's meeting suggests that further negotiations may be needed to avert wider confrontations.
In the broader context of Syria's civil war, which has raged for over a decade, Aleppo has long been a flashpoint. The city's division along ethnic and factional lines dates back to intense battles in 2016, when government forces, with Russian support, recaptured much of the urban center from rebels. The Kurdish enclaves in the north persisted as semi-autonomous zones, fostering uneasy coexistence with state elements.
The fall of Assad last year marked a potential turning point, with hopes for a more inclusive governance structure. Yet, the incorporation of diverse militias into a unified army remains fraught, particularly given external influences from powers like the U.S., Turkey, and Russia. Analysts note that failure to resolve these tensions could undermine the interim government's authority and invite renewed instability.
As of Wednesday, there were no reports of further escalation, but both sides appeared to be reinforcing positions in the contested areas. International observers, including the United Nations, have called for restraint and renewed dialogue to protect civilians caught in the crossfire. The U.S. State Department issued a statement expressing concern over the violence and urging all parties to honor commitments under the integration agreement.
Looking ahead, the success of merging the SDF will likely hinge on addressing underlying grievances, including Turkish objections and the SDF's demands for political representation. With the 2025 deadline approaching, these Aleppo clashes serve as a stark reminder of the challenges in forging a cohesive post-war Syria. For now, the residents of Sheikh Maqsoud and surrounding neighborhoods brace for what may come next in this volatile landscape.