Syrian government soldiers on a vehicle in Aleppo.Image: keystone
Jan 8, 2026, 12:32 p.mJan 8, 2026, 12:32 p.m
In Aleppo, northern Syria, violent clashes between Kurdish forces and government troops continue for the third day in a row.
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, at least twelve civilians have been killed in the fighting so far. Its head, Rami Abdel-Rahman, told the German Press Agency (dpa) that there were also women and children among them.
At least four members of government troops and a Kurdish fighter were also killed. The observatory based in Great Britain also reported around 60 injuries.
These are the heaviest fighting in Aleppo, Syria’s second largest city, since the fall of long-time ruler Bashar al-Assad at the end of 2024.
Negotiations to integrate the Kurds have so far had no result
Fighting broke out on Tuesday between the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and government troops and militias allied with them. The Kurds and the government actually agreed in March last year to integrate the institutions in the north and northeast of the country, which were previously managed autonomously by Kurds, into the state system. The SDF fighters should also become part of the regular Syrian armed forces. The negotiations had recently stalled. Implementation has not yet taken place.
According to the state news agency Sana, the Syrian army announced “targeted operations” against SDF positions in Kurdish districts of Aleppo from 1:30 p.m. (local time, 12:30 p.m. CET). From then on, a curfew will apply until further notice.
Both sides accuse each other of launching the attacks. The SDF accused the interim government of “intimidation of the civilian population” and spoke of “forced displacements”. (sda/dpa)