A fragile calm returned to Aleppo after overnight clashes between Syrian forces and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) left at least one person dead and several others wounded. The confrontation in Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh districts ended with a tentative ceasefire, underscoring the fragility of efforts to integrate SDF fighters into the national army.

Details of the Clashes and Ceasefire

Residents described heavy gunfire and mortar exchanges through the night. Government officials accused SDF units of attacking army checkpoints, while SDF sources said pro-Damascus militias fired first. At least one member of the internal security forces was killed and civilians were among the injured. By morning, a local ceasefire halted fighting, with both sides withdrawing armored vehicles and heavy weapons.

Integration Deal Faces Obstacles

The March 2025 framework to merge SDF forces into Syria’s national military has seen limited progress. Disputes over chain of command, administrative control, and deployment zones continue to strain relations. Aleppo’s mixed-control neighborhoods have become a symbol of that deadlock, as each side seeks to maintain influence under the guise of coordination.

Political Context and Outlook

The flare-up came days after parliamentary elections that excluded territories outside Damascus’s authority, further isolating SDF-controlled zones. Analysts warn that without progress on the integration roadmap and power-sharing mechanisms, Aleppo could again become a focal point of confrontation between the two sides.