On January 13, fighting between Syrian government forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) was reported east of Aleppo, only days after a ceasefire led to the withdrawal of SDF fighters from the city’s Kurdish-majority neighbourhoods. While large-scale hostilities in Aleppo itself have subsided, the violence has shifted geographically, perpetuating a climate of fear for local populations.
The most recent clashes erupted in the Deir Hafer district, a strategically sensitive area that has long marked the frontline between territories controlled by Damascus and those administered by the SDF in northeastern Syria. Exchanges of fire, shelling, and reported drone attacks have raised concerns of escalation, prompting Syrian authorities to declare parts of eastern Aleppo province a closed military zone. Although no casualties were immediately confirmed, the militarisation of the area has significantly increased risks for civilians living along this contested corridor.
These developments follow several days of intense fighting inside Aleppo earlier in the month, particularly in the neighbourhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh. The clashes were triggered by the collapse of negotiations aimed at integrating the SDF into Syria’s national army, an agreement initially reached in March 2025 but never fully implemented. As confrontations intensified, government forces regained control over the Kurdish-majority districts, while a ceasefire brokered through international mediation led to the evacuation of SDF fighters to northern and eastern Syria.
For civilians, the consequences were severe. At least 30 people were killed during the fighting, and more than 150,000 residents were forced to flee their homes, many seeking shelter with relatives or in already overstretched displacement sites. Following the latest confrontation, the Syrian military announced that on January 15 it would open a humanitarian corridor allowing civilians to evacuate the area. The communication raised concerns over a possible offensive in the towns of Deir Hafer and Maskana, especially after the government sent troop reinforcements to the region after accusing the SDF of building up its own forces.
Beyond displacement, reports of security operations in recaptured neighbourhoods have deepened civilian fears. Government forces reportedly carried out searches aimed at locating individuals previously detained by the SDF, including civilian activists and opposition figures arrested during earlier phases of the conflict. Such operations, conducted in a climate of heightened tension, risk arbitrary arrests and further violations of due process, reinforcing patterns of mistrust and trauma among affected communities.
Despite official statements pointing to improving security conditions in Aleppo, the broader context remains deeply unstable. The failure to resolve the status of the SDF within the Syrian state continues to fuel cycles of confrontation, with civilians repeatedly caught in between. Renewed clashes in eastern Aleppo suggest that underlying political disputes remain unresolved, making future outbreaks of violence likely.
For civilians, this persistent insecurity translates into prolonged displacement, restricted freedom of movement, and ongoing fear of violence. Without a durable political settlement that prioritises civilian protection, accountability, and inclusive governance, the humanitarian toll of these confrontations will continue to grow, undermining prospects for peace and recovery in northern Syria.
