SYRIA - A ceasefire has been reached in Aleppo after two days of deadly clashes between the Syrian army and Kurdish fighters of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). But residents on the ground are wavering between relief and fear of further violence, our Observer explains. On 7 October 2025, violent fighting broke out between the Syrian army and Kurdish fighters of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the Shaykh Maksoud and Ashrafiya neighbourhoods north of Aleppo, Syria's second largest city. These predominantly Kurdish areas were subjected to heavy shelling, according to preliminary reports, which left two dead and several wounded, including civilians.
The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) took control of the Ashrafiya and Sheikh Maksoud neighbourhoods in 2015 and made these two areas their main bastions in the city of Aleppo. Since then, they have established checkpoints and security centres to ensure the protection of residents and maintain local order. Under SDF administration, these neighbourhoods have also retained a degree of autonomy in their social and cultural activities. Growing tensions have been fuelled by demonstrations by residents of Kurdish neighbourhoods protesting against checkpoints which they say have made access to these neighbourhoods difficult.
However, according to the Syrian defence ministry, the SDF carried out "repeated attacks". They are accused of "digging tunnels and building fortifications" in northern neighbourhoods under their control. The SDF, for its part, condemned the army's "disproportionate repression" and claimed that the Syrian army "opened fire without reason".
These clashes have had an impact on civilians, explained Aleppo activist Omar Assad:
"People who work in Sheikh Maksoud and live in Aleppo could not return home. Similarly, those who work in Aleppo and live in Sheikh Maksoud could not return because of the road closures. This situation lasted for two days until a ceasefire agreement was reached." The explosions resonated to the outskirts of the city, reviving memories of the urban battles that devastated Aleppo nearly a decade ago. Less than a day after the clashes, Damascus announced a ceasefire, presented as a simple "defensive" redeployment of its troops.
"Residents are in the crossfire"
Qusay al-Halabi is a freelance journalist in Aleppo. This week he has been following the tensions and their impact on the population. "After the first clashes on 7 October, people from Kurdish-controlled areas moved on foot to other Syrian government-controlled neighbourhoods in Aleppo, about 500 metres away. I witnessed how these movements were facilitated by the general security forces stationed at the entrances to both neighbourhoods."
"No inspection or verification of the displaced persons has been carried out. They were allowed to leave with their belongings, but return was prohibited for security reasons, as I understand from the personnel stationed at the checkpoint." According to his testimony, Kurdish groups blocked the entrance to the neighbourhoods on the morning of Wednesday 8 October. Since the ceasefire that afternoon, however, the situation has gradually calmed down.
"Residents were able to enter Kurdish neighbourhoods on foot on 9 October. Food trucks are coming in and now I see shepherds leaving the two neighbourhoods with their flocks to graze. The situation seems to be heading towards de-escalation." However, some civilians told me they have decided to leave permanently because they fear further clashes. They want to end this instability, which has been going on for months."
A fragile return to normal
Two photos taken by our Observer after the ceasefire show one of the border crossings towards Shaykh Maksoud and Ashrafiya at the Shihan roundabout northwest of Aleppo. They show food trucks and a flock of sheep leaving both neighbourhoods, indicating a gradual return to normalcy.
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