Syria clashes: Security forces deploy in Aleppo; dozens killed in fighting with Kurdish forces
Syrian security forces began deploying on Saturday in the Sheikh Maqsoud neighbourhood of the northern city of Aleppo after several days of intense clashes with Kurdish fighters that left dozens dead and wounded.According to Syria’s state news agency SANA, two Kurdish fighters blew themselves up while surrounded by security forces, without causing casualties. Gunfire was still being heard in the area around noon. From early Saturday, security forces launched sweeping operations in the neighbourhood and urged residents to stay indoors for their safety.Later in the day, an explosive drone struck the Aleppo Governorate building shortly after two Cabinet ministers and a local official held a press conference on the situation, state TV said. There was no immediate information on casualties. State television blamed Kurdish fighters for the drone attack, a claim denied by the main Kurdish-led force, which said it did not target civilian sites, as per news agency AP.The clashes erupted on Tuesday in the Kurdish-majority areas of Sheikh Maqsoud, Achrafieh and Bani Zaid after talks between the government and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) stalled over integrating Kurdish forces into the national army. Government forces have since taken control of Achrafieh and Bani Zaid. Five days of fighting killed at least 22 people, with both sides reporting civilian deaths in their respective areas, AP reported. More than 140,000 people were displaced.As per news agency AFP, Syrian authorities later began transferring Kurdish fighters from Aleppo to areas under Kurdish control in the northeast after some fighters announced their surrender.State TV reported a halt to military operations in Sheikh Maqsoud, while AFP correspondents saw buses carrying fighters out of the district under security escort.Hundreds of residents who fled earlier were seen waiting at the entrances of Sheikh Maqsoud to return once operations end. Meanwhile, Jordan’s foreign minister discussed the situation with the US special envoy to Syria, offering support for efforts to consolidate a ceasefire and ensure a peaceful withdrawal of Kurdish fighters.
