Fresh violence underscores unresolved political and security tensions

Aleppo clashes expose SDF integration deadlock

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<p data-start="110" data-end="363"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Renewed clashes in Aleppo between the Syrian army and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have underscored the deep political and security challenges Syria continues to face more than a year after the fall of former president Bashar al-Assad.</span></p>
<p data-start="365" data-end="636"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">At least 22 people were killed this week as fighting erupted in northern neighbourhoods of the city, exposing long-standing tensions between Damascus and the SDF. Both sides are backed by the United States, adding international complexity to an already fragile situation.</span></p>
<p data-start="638" data-end="1028"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The violence has cast fresh doubt on a March 2025 agreement between the Syrian government, led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa, and the SDF. The deal aimed to integrate the Kurdish-led forces into state institutions, establish a nationwide ceasefire, formally recognise Kurds as part of the Syrian state, and place key border crossings, airports and oilfields under central government control.</span></p>
<p data-start="1030" data-end="1326"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">However, little progress has been made. Disputes remain over how integration should take place, including whether the SDF would join as a unified force or be absorbed as individual recruits. Talks between senior commanders and government officials earlier this month ended without clear outcomes.</span></p>
<p data-start="1328" data-end="1733"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The latest fighting displaced tens of thousands of civilians from the predominantly Kurdish neighbourhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud, Ashrafieh and Bani Zeid. A temporary ceasefire announced by the Syrian Ministry of Defence was intended to allow SDF fighters to redeploy east of the Euphrates River, but Kurdish local councils rejected the move, calling it a demand to surrender and vowing to defend their areas.</span></p>
<p data-start="1735" data-end="2138"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The SDF rose to prominence during Syria&rsquo;s civil war and was formally established in 2015, largely made up of the People&rsquo;s Protection Units (YPG), which are linked to the Kurdistan Workers&rsquo; Party (PKK). While the PKK is designated a terrorist organisation by several countries, Washington partnered with the SDF in the fight against ISIL, helping build a force now estimated at 50,000 to 90,000 fighters.</span></p>
<p data-start="2140" data-end="2372"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">This support has long angered Turkiye, which views the SDF as a security threat and has carried out military operations in northern Syria to push the group away from its border. Ankara remains a close ally of al-Sharaa&rsquo;s government.</span></p>
<p data-start="2374" data-end="2624"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Regional rivalries have further complicated the situation, with growing tensions between Turkiye and Israel raising concerns about wider escalation. Israel has already conducted strikes inside Syria and expanded its presence beyond the Golan Heights.</span></p>
<p data-start="2626" data-end="2979"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The United States, which maintains ties with all sides, continues to deploy troops in eastern Syria while attempting to mediate between competing interests. Analysts warn that while US involvement may help prevent a complete collapse of the March agreement, temporary ceasefires do little to resolve deeper issues of power-sharing, governance and trust.</span></p>
<p data-start="2981" data-end="3157" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node=""><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Without a comprehensive political settlement and an inclusive vision for Syria&rsquo;s future, experts caution that sporadic clashes like those seen in Aleppo are likely to continue.</span></p>
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10 જાન્યુઆરી, 2026 | 18:04 IST

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