Syria govt demands Kurdish fighters leave Aleppo neighbourhoodsListen to this articleThousands fled the Kurdish-dominated neighbourhoods of Aleppo in SyriaALEPPO (SYRIA) - Syria's government on Wednesday demanded that Kurdish fighters leave the neighbourhoods they control in Aleppo following clashes between the two sides which saw thousands of civilians flee. In a statement, the government expressed its "demand for the withdrawal of armed groups from the Sheikh Maqsud and Ashrafiyeh neighbourhoods". The Syrian military shelled the neighbourhoods after declaring them "closed military zones" from 1200 GMT. A military source at the scene told AFP the ongoing operation was "limited" and aimed at "pressuring Kurdish fighters in the two neighbourhoods to leave the area so the authorities can extend their control to the entire city". Sheikh Maqsud and Ashrafiyeh have remained under the control of Kurdish units linked to the SDF, despite Kurdish fighters agreeing to withdraw from the areas in April.

Source: Bangkok Post January 07, 2026 21:47 UTC