A tense and fragile ceasefire has taken effect in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo, following three days of intense combat that forced more than 140,000 residents to flee their homes. The Syrian government announced the truce after clashes with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), marking the most severe fighting the country has witnessed in over six months.
Terms of the Truce and Immediate Aftermath
The pause in hostilities came into force at 3am local time (midnight GMT) on Wednesday. According to the terms set by Damascus, Kurdish militants were to withdraw from the three contested neighbourhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud, Ashrafieh and Bani Zaid. They were to be granted safe passage to north-eastern Syria, which is under SDF control, and permitted to take light weapons with them.
Residents reported that the fierce gunfire, which had been constant for days, appeared to stop overnight. Syrian government security forces posted videos online showing clearing operations in the neighbourhoods and inspections of underground tunnels allegedly used by the SDF to move fighters and weapons beneath the city.
Uncertainty and Accusations Cloud the Deal
Whether the ceasefire will hold remains deeply unclear. The SDF has not formally agreed to the truce, and its internal security force, the Asayish, denied requesting safe passage, instead demanding that government troops withdraw. Similar agreements have collapsed in the past, and the latest violence has severely damaged trust between the two sides.
Both parties have traded serious accusations. The SDF accused Damascus of ethnic cleansing and forced displacement by ordering civilians to leave before shelling. The Syrian government, in turn, claimed the SDF used civilians as human shields and sniped at people trying to use humanitarian corridors.
Regional Stakes and International Reaction
The conflict in Aleppo is a microcosm of the wider struggle for control of Syria. The SDF, which holds about a third of the country's territory, is backed by the United States but viewed as a terrorist extension of the PKK by Turkey, a key supporter of Damascus. Negotiations to integrate the SDF into Syria's army have stalled, with each side vilifying the other.
US Special Envoy for Syria, Tom Barrack, confirmed the deal on social media, stating the US "warmly welcomes the temporary ceasefire" and thanked both sides for their "restraint and goodwill". Meanwhile, Turkey's foreign minister stated that the SDF's insistence on protecting its gains is the "biggest obstacle to achieving peace and stability in Syria".
The coming days will be a critical test for the ceasefire. With over 140,000 people displaced and a history of broken agreements, the path to a lasting peace in Aleppo and across Syria remains fraught with difficulty.
