 exchanged fire on Tuesday. This escalation has raised fears of a full-scale war across northeastern Syria’s sensitive frontlines. The surge in violence primarily stems from a stalemate over the integration of SDF fighters into the national army.){kind=link}
Heavy shelling and drone strikes intensified in eastern Aleppo as Syrian government forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) exchanged fire on Tuesday. This escalation has raised fears of a full-scale war across northeastern Syria’s sensitive frontlines. The surge in violence primarily stems from a stalemate over the integration of SDF fighters into the national army.
To contain the situation, the Syrian military declared a strategic sector in eastern Aleppo as a “closed military area.” The SDF accused government troops of attacking Deir Hafer and surrounding villages with rockets and explosive drones. Conversely, Syrian state television reported that Kurdish fighters provoked the military with drone strikes on Homeima village. This renewed hostility follows a week of bloody clashes in Aleppo that displaced over 10,000 civilians.
Damascus officials alleged that the SDF is amassing troops in Maskana and Deir Hafer to launch drone attacks on Aleppo city. Consequently, the army issued an ultimatum for Kurdish forces to retreat to the eastern bank of the Euphrates River. Although an integration agreement was signed last March, opposition from Turkish-backed factions has stalled its implementation.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration’s strengthening ties with Syria’s interim government have left the SDF in a vulnerable position. Despite their long-standing alliance with the U.S. in the fight against ISIS, Kurdish leadership now questions Washington’s stance. The Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria is now demanding that the U.S. clarify its position regarding the Damascus government.