At least two people have died and more than a dozen injured after clashes broke out between the Syrian army and Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Aleppo.
The violence coincided with high-level talks on integrating SDF fighters into Syria’s state institutions.
According to medical sources, two civilians were killed and 11 others wounded when SDF forces opened fire near the Sheihan and Lairmoun roundabouts. Dozens of families and local workers reportedly fled the area amid heavy gunfire, mortar shelling, and machine-gun attacks, Syria’s state-run SANA news agency reported.
The Syrian Civil Defence confirmed that two of its rescuers were injured while traveling in a vehicle targeted by SDF gunfire. Additionally, two children sustained injuries at the Sheihan roundabout.
Syria’s Ministry of Interior described the incident as a “treacherous” SDF attack on internal security personnel, injuring two security staff, including a soldier.
SDF denies targeting civilians
The SDF rejected claims of attacking civilian areas, instead accusing factions affiliated with the Syrian government of carrying out the attacks—a claim Damascus has firmly denied.
After several hours of fighting, both sides agreed to cease hostilities late Monday. The Syrian army reportedly ordered its units to stop targeting firing sources, while the SDF issued directives to halt responses to attacks.
High-level talks as catalyst
The clashes occurred alongside Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan’s visit to Damascus to discuss the integration of SDF forces into Syria’s new army. President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who assumed power following Bashar al-Assad’s removal, signed a deal with the SDF in March to incorporate the group into state institutions.
However, the deal’s details remained vague, and implementation has stalled. Reporting from Damascus, Al Jazeera’s Ayman Oghanna said the meeting with Turkish officials acted as a catalyst for Monday’s violence.
Previously, Damascus suggested merging the 50,000 SDF fighters into three divisions under partial Syrian control, while Turkey opposed this plan, calling for the dismantling of the SDF’s existing command structure.
The US-backed SDF has controlled large territories in northeastern Syria since 2015. Experts say integrating the SDF is one of Syria’s most sensitive issues, as it affects both national unity and regional diplomatic relations.
Samy Akil, a fellow at the Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy, highlighted the lack of trust between the parties and the dual pressures on both sides. The SDF faces demands to surrender control of its territories, while the Syrian government is under pressure from Turkey to negotiate a solution.
