The situation in Aleppo is on a tightrope, as the Kurdish groups announced on Friday their decision to . The militants have vowed to defend their districts, refusing to comply with demands to leave the city, amid fierce clashes that have raged throughout the week.
The resurgence of violence exposes the deep rift that separates the Islamist government of President Ahmed al-Sharaa from Kurdish forces, who are staunchly resisting efforts to bring them under central rule.
The ultimatum and refusal to “surrender”
The truce proposal submitted by the Ministry of Defense provided for the immediate withdrawal of Kurdish forces to the areas of northeastern Syria. Such a development would mark the end of the Kurdish presence in strategic parts of Aleppo, which have been controlled by these forces since the start of the Syrian civil war in 2011. The deadline was set at 09:00 am. of Friday.
The buses designated for transporting SDF militia fighters withdrew from the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood after being exposed to fire from militia members.
– ZAMANALWSL – Zaman Al-Wasl (@zamanalwsl)
However, the Kurdish councils governing the Sheikh Maksoud and Ashrafiyah regions flatly rejected the proposal. In a statement they described the demand for withdrawal as a “call for surrender” and denounced the government forces for intensive bombardment, saying they were determined to defend their homes.
Humanitarian crisis and diplomatic fever
The toll of the conflicts is already heavy. At least nine civilians have lost their lives, while more than 140,000 residents have been displaced. Neither side has released official figures for fighter casualties.
Diplomatically, the United States is attempting to prevent escalation. The US envoy for Syria, Tom Barak, welcomed the “temporary truce” and said Washington was working to extend it. “We hope that this weekend will bring a more lasting calm and a deeper dialogue,” he said.
Nevertheless, a Reuters reporter on Friday morning spotted more than a dozen empty buses entering Sheikh Maksoud, which security sources said were intended to transport Kurdish fighters, a sign that Damascus expected compliance.
The role of Turkey and the impasse of integration
Washington has long been trying to advance the integration of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) with the government army under a framework agreement signed in March 2025. However, progress has been minimal.
At the same time, Turkey is closely monitoring developments, threatening military intervention. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said shortly before the ceasefire was announced that normalization in Aleppo would only come “through the withdrawal of SDF elements”, which Ankara considers a terrorist organization linked to the PKK.
