President Masoud Barzani and US Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack spoke on the phone, discussing the latest developments in Syria, including the tensions in Aleppo, according to a statement from Barzani’s office. 

“During the call, views were exchanged on the political situation in the region and in Syria, as well as the latest developments and tensions in Syria and the city of Aleppo. In the same call, both sides stressed the need to make every effort to prevent the continuation of tensions and unrest, to restore normal conditions, and to take serious steps toward achieving security, stability, and peace,” read the statement. 

 

The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said they endorse the decision of Kurdish fighters in Aleppo to continue defending the Kurdish-majority neighborhoods against the ongoing attacks by the Syrian Arab Army. 

“We believe that the people of Sheikh Maqsood and Ashrafiyeh will defeat all enemy plans through their resistance and achieve victory for themselves and for all Kurds. As you know, we withdrew from the neighborhoods under the April 1 agreement. The area is administered by the local council and internal security forces [Asayish],” Sipan Hamo, a senior SDF commander, said in a video message.  

“Today, the council governing Sheikh Maqsood and Ashrafiyeh issued a statement announcing its decision to continue resisting, preserve its dignity, and not retreat. We, as the SDF, support this decision and will provide any assistance needed. No one has the right to expel the people of Sheikh Maqsood and Ashrafiyeh or [forcibly] displace them elsewhere,” he added. 

A ceasefire, brokered by France and US, ceased fire hours early Friday. The army had prepared buses for Kurdish fighters to be transported to SDF-held areas in northeast Syria (Rojava) but the Kurdish fighters, also known as Asayish, refused to hand over the control of the area, citing lack of trust in Damascus' treatment of Kurds. 

The fighting has resumed since Friday afternoon, with Asayish reporting several failed attempts by the army to advance. 

Kurdish internal security forces (Asayish) in Aleppo reported on Friday that the Kurdish-majority Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood is facing “violent and intensive bombardment” by Damascus-affiliated factions.

The escalation follows a declaration by the Syrian Arab Army designating the neighborhood as a “closed military zone.”

According to an Asayish statement, the neighborhood is being targeted by various types of heavy weaponry, including tanks and artillery, in “a wide-scale attack targeting residential neighborhoods.” The security forces characterized the assault as reflecting “a pattern of systematic war of extermination against the population, similar to the methods of destructive wars against populated areas.”

The Asayish further noted that “government militias are attempting to penetrate with tanks, amid fierce and continuous resistance from our forces.” In response, the Kurdish forces reported having “targeted a large gathering” of the attacking factions in the vicinity of the neighborhood, resulting in “confirmed injuries in their ranks.”

Violent clashes remain ongoing amid the sustained shelling. The Asayish emphasized that the strikes are hitting “all residential gatherings inside the neighborhood, including hospitals and service institutions.”

A German Social Democratic Party (SPD) lawmaker on Friday condemned violence in Aleppo’s Kurdish-majority neighborhoods, and said that Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa is responsible for protecting minorities and maintaining peace.

“We are monitoring this situation with concern. We see thousands of people fleeing, leaving Aleppo, and the people are suffering. This is a source of great concern for us,” Derya Turk-Nachbaur told Rudaw.

Asked about Berlin’s position, she said her party has taken a clear stance.

“We, as a faction, condemn it; we have done this in many places. It is necessary to protect or strengthen the foundations of the state so that democracy emerges there,” she said.

Turk-Nachbaur added that minorities continue to face violence despite repeated assurances that they would be included in Syria’s reconstruction and governance. “We see minorities in Syria, as before, contrary to all those promises that supposedly they will participate in the reconstruction and administration of Syria, still have not been implemented,” she said.

“We see the expansion of violence, we see attacks on Druze, Alawites and Kurds. This is not in the interest of a stable region,” she added.

Turk-Nachbaur placed responsibility on Syria’s interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, to prevent further escalation and protect civilians. “The responsibility is with Sharaa; he is being asked and must work for it so that the state remains in peace and unity,” she said.

She said Sharaa has pledged equal rights for all Syrians, stressing that repression would undermine those promises. “This cannot be done through oppression,” she said.

“Forced expulsion is an assault on international humanitarian laws; minorities must not be oppressed, they must not be expelled. They, too, must receive those rights like everyone else,” Turk-Nachbaur said.

The Syrian Arab Army has declared the Kurdish-majority neighborhood of Sheikh Maqsood as a “closed military zone,” imposing an indefinite curfew as it prepares for a new attack on the area.

The army said the curfew started at 6:30 pm (local time) “until further notice,” reported the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), citing a statement from the Operations Command. 

“We advise our civilian residents inside the neighborhood to stay away from windows, move to lower floors, and avoid approaching SDF positions,” the army added, referring to the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, the de facto military force in northeast Syria (Rojava).

The SDF withdrew from the neighborhood last year as part of an agreement with Damascus but the SDF-affiliated Asayish security forces have remained there.

Sweden’s foreign ministry on Friday said it is closely monitoring fighting in Aleppo’s Kurdish-majority neighborhoods, calling for de-escalation and a political transition that includes all segments of Syrian society.

“Sweden and the EU are calling for de-escalation and restraint, and continue to work for a political transition process that includes all sections of Syrian society,” the Swedish foreign affairs ministry told Rudaw’s Niyaz Mustafa.
 
The ministry said it “is aware of the reports of fighting in Aleppo,” adding that Sweden’s embassy in Beirut “is monitoring developments closely.”

“Everyone – in Sweden, in the EU, and in particular the Syrian population – has an interest in stability and peaceful and democratic development in Syria,” the ministry said, noting that “Sweden and the EU have conveyed our expectations in this regard in our dialogues with the Syrian transitional government.”

Germany’s Left Party on Friday accused the federal government of failing to clearly condemn the Syrian government “attacking” Aleppo’s Kurdish-majority neighborhoods and “war against the Kurds,” warning that the ongoing violence could be ignored to justify future deportations of Syrians from Europe.

“I absolutely do not understand why the federal government [of Germany] has so far made no clear statement on this matter. The current Syrian government is attacking neighborhoods in Aleppo. This war is against the Kurds who live there. Of course, this must be condemned,” Jan van Aken, co-chair of The Left Party, told Rudaw's Alla Shally.

Van Aken also called on European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen “to clearly condemn this too.”

Von der Leyen met Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Damascus on Friday, saying in a post on X that “Europe will do everything it can to support Syria’s recovery and reconstruction.”

“My fear is that a dirty deal could be made,” van Aken said, adding that he is concerned a “dirty idea could emerge from [German Chancellor] Friedrich Merz,” suggesting that Germany might claim there is peace in Syria in order to deport refugees.

“There is fighting there now. There is a war going on there. No one should be returned there at this time,” he said.

Germany has recently stepped up deportations, drawing criticism from opposition and leftist parties over potential human rights violations. In November, Merz said Syrians could also face expulsion, stating that “there are now no longer any grounds for asylum in Germany, and therefore we can also begin with repatriations.”

Elham Ahmad, a senior official in the Kurdish administration in northeast Syria (Rojava), said they are committed to agreements they have reached with Damascus but accused the interim government of seeking an end to the deals. 

“[W]e are committed to peace and to resolving problems through dialogue. But until now, the government... does not want a solution,” she told AFP. “With these attacks, the government side is seeking to put an end to the agreements that have been reached. We are committed to them and we are seeking to implement them," she added, referring to the ongoing siege and attack by the Syrian Arab Army on the Kurdish-majority neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsood and Ashrafiyeh in Aleppo. 

The Kurdish internal security forces (Asayish) said they repelled two attacks by armed factions affiliated with Damascus in Sheikh Maqsood neighborhood of Aleppo.

The groups were able to make an advance before being forced to retreat, Asayish said, adding that the quarter "continues to be subjected to ongoing artillery shelling for the fourth consecutive day by factions affiliated with the Damascus government."

 

The French foreign ministry said Paris and Washington are working together to "encourage de-escalation" in Aleppo, welcoming a temporary ceasefire between Kurdish fighters and the state forces in the Kurdish-majority neighborhoods of the city. 

"France is continuing its efforts to facilitate dialogue between the Syrian transitional authorities and the Syrian Democratic Forces, in coordination with the United States, and reiterates its commitment to the full implementation of the March 10 agreement, which is essential for the unification of Syria and the stability of the region," said the ministry in a statement. 

 

Syrian army told state media that they will open a "humanitarian corridor" in the Kurdish-majority neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsood in Aleppo to allow people to evacuate as tensions remain high in the area. 

"The Operations Command of the Syrian Arab Army told SANA that a humanitarian corridor will be opened from 4 pm. until 6 pm. They urged residents of the Sheikh Maqsood neighborhood to quickly leave and move to other neighborhoods of Aleppo via the al-Awarid corridor, and called on SDF fighters to lay down their weapons, stating that they will be secured," reported Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA). 

The general council of the Sheikh Maqsood and Ashrafiyeh neighborhoods - affiliated with the Kurdish administration in northeastern Syria (Rojava) - on Friday issued an urgent statement rejecting calls by Damascus government forces to surrender, stressing that residents are determined to remain and defend their areas.

“The appeals directed by the Damascus government forces to our people and our security forces are calls for surrender. However, our people in these neighborhoods are determined to stay and defend them,” the statement said.

In a separate breaking statement, the general council reiterated its stance, saying there would be no retreat from protecting the neighborhoods. “We cannot take a single step back regarding the protection of our neighborhoods. We have made our decision to remain in our neighborhoods and defend them,” it added.

The Aleppo governorate announced Friday that buses have been prepared to transfer Kurdish internal security forces (Asaiysh) and their light personal weapons to areas east of the Euphrates.

Aleppo’s governorate said government institutions are preparing to provide services in the Ashrafiyah and Sheikh Maqsood neighborhoods.

The Aleppo Response Committee is "coordinating the return of civilians after security operations, mine clearance, and road reopening."

Authorities urged residents to follow "instructions and avoid returning to the neighborhoods until the areas are fully cleared and safe."

 

The Syrian government is seeking to change the demographic composition of Kurdish-majority neighborhoods in Aleppo by seizing control of them and displacing their indigenous residents, according to a Kurdish official.

Clashes between Kurdish internal security forces (Asayish) and Damascus-affiliated forces entered their fourth consecutive day on Friday. Fighting, however, briefly paused after a ceasefire took effect late last night.

“The Syrian government’s objective is to empty the Kurdish neighborhoods [of Ashrafiyah and Sheikh Maqsood] and alter the area’s demography. This is extremely dangerous,” said Sinam Mohamad, the Washington-based representative of the Syrian Democratic Council (SDC), the political wing of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), in an interview with Rudaw.

Commenting on recent developments, Mohamad said that parts of Ashrafiyah have fallen under the control of Damascus-affiliated forces.

“Ashrafiyah is a large neighborhood, and some of its residents are Arabs. That part has fallen into their hands. However, the areas predominantly inhabited by Kurds remain under the control of the internal Asayish forces,” she said.

Mohamad added that the intensity of the attacks has forced parts of the Kurdish population to flee to Afrin.

“The Syrian government wants to bring these areas under its control. To achieve this, it has resorted to military means and intimidation of civilians,” the Kurdish official said.

An estimated half a million people live in the two predominantly Kurdish neighborhoods of Aleppo.

 

Belgium’s foreign ministry on Friday told Rudaw that the situation on the ground in Aleppo is “worrying,” urging all parties to exercise restraint, protect civilian lives, and move toward “immediate de-escalation.”

“The situation is worrying. Belgium is following with great concern the developments in and around Aleppo, especially reports of civilian casualties,” the Belgian foreign ministry said in a statement to Rudaw. “Belgium calls for immediate de-escalation, dialogue, the protection of civilians, and the revival of the March agreement.”

The ministry called on “all sides to exercise restraint, protect civilians, and seek a peaceful and diplomatic solution in line with the agreement reached on 10 March 2025.”

“Reaching stability across the country is a key element in ensuring a sustainable and inclusive transition that meets the aspirations of all Syrian people,” the statement added.

Tensions have escalated in the Kurdish-majority neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsood and Ashrafiyeh in northern Aleppo following attacks by the Syrian Arab Army and its affiliated factions on the Kurdish Internal Security Forces (Asayish), which are affiliated with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The Asayish have been deployed in the neighborhoods since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime.

Over the past four days, at least 20 people have been killed and 75 others injured, according to local officials.

“Beyond the tragic consequences of these clashes on the lives of civilians, such tensions threaten Syria’s internal stability as well as regional stability,” Belgium said.

 

The United States on Friday welcomed a temporary ceasefire in Aleppo’s Ashrafiyeh and Sheikh Maqsood neighborhoods, according to US Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack.

Barrack said Washington “warmly” welcomed “the temporary ceasefire achieved last night,” praising the efforts that led to the pause in fighting.

He added that the United States “extends profound gratitude to all parties—the Syrian government, the Syrian Democratic Forces, local authorities, and community leaders—for the restraint and goodwill that made this vital pause possible.”

“With sustained cooperation and by the grace of the One God whom all our communities revere in their own light, we are hopeful this weekend will bring a more enduring calm and deeper dialogue,” Barrack said.

The US special envoy noted that efforts were ongoing to extend the ceasefire beyond its scheduled expiration at 9 a.m., saying Washington was “working intensively to extend this ceasefire and spirit of understanding.”

 

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The ministry of defense of Syria announced a ceasefire early Friday in several northern Aleppo neighborhoods amid heightened military tensions, calling on the Kurdish forces - which it labels them as "armed groups" - to withdraw by a set deadline.

In a statement early Friday, the ministry said the move comes “out of a complete commitment to the safety of our civilian people in the city of Aleppo, and to prevent any slide toward a new military escalation within residential neighborhoods.”

According to the statement, a ceasefire has been declared “in the vicinity of the Sheikh Maqsood, Ashrafiyeh, and Bani Zaid neighborhoods in the city of Aleppo, effective as of 03:00 am.” The ministry requested that “armed groups in the three neighborhoods are requested to leave the area starting from 03:00 am; the deadline expires at 09:00 am tomorrow, Friday.”

The ministry said departing fighters will be allowed to carry “only their individual light weapons,” adding that “the Syrian Arab Army pledges to provide an escort and guarantee their safe passage until they reach areas in the northeast of the country.”

The statement comes amid escalating tensions in the Kurdish-majority neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsood and Ashrafiyeh in northern Aleppo after the Syrian Arab Army and its affiliated factions attacked the Kurdish Internal Security Forces (Asayish) - affiliated with the Syrian Democratic Force (SDF) - who have been deployed to the neighborhoods since the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime. Over the past three days, at least 20 people have been killed and 75 others have been injured, according to local officials.

The defense ministry stressed that the decision is intended “to end the military state in these neighborhoods, paving the way for the restoration of the rule of law and official institutions.”

It added that the measure also aims “to enable residents who were forced to leave their homes to return and resume their normal lives in an atmosphere of security and stability.”

The statement urged “all concerned parties to strictly adhere to the specified deadline to ensure the safety of everyone and to prevent any field clashes.”

According to the ministry, the withdrawal process will be overseen by security bodies, stating that “the internal security forces, in coordination with the Operations Authority of the Syrian Arab Army, will manage the mechanism for the withdrawal of armed groups from the neighborhoods toward northeastern Syria.”