Damascus Completes Security Sweep in Aleppo’s Sheikh Maqsoud Amid Ongoing Tensions
Syrian Army arrests US-backed SDF fighters as clashes and ceasefire disputes continue in northern Aleppo
ALEPPO | PUREWILAYAH.COM — The Syrian Army announced on Saturday that it has completed sweeping security operations in the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood of Aleppo, amid continued tensions and clashes with the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
Syrian authorities have urged residents to remain inside their homes, warning that armed SDF and PKK-linked fighters are still believed to be hiding in parts of the neighborhood.
According to Syria’s state news agency SANA, a military source confirmed the arrest of several SDF members during the operation, along with the seizure of a cache of medium and heavy weapons.
The operation was described as part of efforts to restore security and dismantle armed groups operating within civilian areas.
SDF Denies Loss of Control
The SDF rejected the Syrian Army’s announcement, claiming its forces remain active inside Sheikh Maqsoud and denying that Damascus has fully secured the neighborhood.
The competing claims come amid heightened military tensions across northern Aleppo, where clashes have repeatedly erupted between Syrian Army-affiliated forces and SDF units.
Renewed Clashes and Civilian Concerns
On Thursday, several neighborhoods in Aleppo witnessed renewed fighting, prompting warnings from authorities and concern among civilians.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that residents in Sheikh Maqsoud and the neighboring al-Ashrafieh district are hoping for a de-escalation, as ongoing confrontations threaten civilian lives.
The Observatory cited announcements by the transitional government indicating a new phase of escalation, which it said could further endanger residents trapped in the conflict zones.
Ceasefire Announced, Then Disputed
On January 9, Syria’s Ministry of Defense announced a ceasefire covering the al-Ashrafieh, Sheikh Maqsoud, and Bani Zaid neighborhoods, effective from 3:00 a.m. local time.
Shortly before declaring the ceasefire, the Ministry issued warnings giving residents in certain areas of Aleppo 20 minutes to evacuate ahead of strikes targeting SDF positions.
Under the ceasefire terms, armed groups were instructed to leave Aleppo by 9:00 a.m., carrying only light personal weapons. However, Syrian security sources told Reuters that no withdrawals occurred overnight, raising doubts about the agreement’s implementation.
Kurdish Councils Reject Withdrawal Demands
Following the ceasefire announcement, the SDF and affiliated Kurdish councils administering Sheikh Maqsoud and al-Ashrafieh rejected the conditions imposed by Damascus’ transitional government.
In statements carried by local media, the councils described the call for Kurdish fighters to withdraw from Aleppo as “a call for surrender,” insisting that residents and local security units are determined to remain in their neighborhoods and defend them.
The statement further accused transitional government forces of conducting attacks using heavy weaponry and carrying out intense shelling in and around the districts.
The developments underscore the continued instability in northern Syria, where US-backed armed formations remain entrenched in urban areas despite repeated ceasefire announcements. Syrian authorities have reiterated that restoring state control and dismantling foreign-backed militant structures is essential to protecting civilians and preserving Syria’s sovereignty. (PW)