Truce covers key neighborhoods after days of fighting leaves at least 21 dead, amid stalled integration talks and rising regional tensions.
DAMASCUS — The Syrian Defense Ministry announced a unilateral ceasefire in several districts of Aleppo on Friday, following intense clashes with Kurdish-led forces that resulted in at least 21 fatalities this week.
The ceasefire, effective from 3:00 a.m. local time, applies to the neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud, Alashrafieh, and Bani Zeid. In an official statement, the ministry said the move aims “to prevent any slide toward a new military escalation within residential neighborhoods.”
Violence erupted on Tuesday between Syrian government troops and the Kurdish-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), marking some of the most severe fighting in Aleppo since government forces regained control of the city years ago. Each side has accused the other of instigating the hostilities.
The clashes come amid a deadlock in negotiations over a long-discussed agreement to integrate the SDF and Kurdish civil institutions into the Syrian state framework—a process that has seen little progress despite periodic dialogues.
The escalation has also underscored delicate regional fault lines, particularly between Turkey—a key supporter of Damascus and staunch opponent of Kurdish armed groups—and Israel, which has condemned the recent attacks on Kurdish positions.
No immediate comments were issued by the SDF regarding the ceasefire announcement.
