Syrian government forces have detained 300 Kurdish individuals and evacuated hundreds of fighters from the city of Aleppo, the interior ministry announced, as the United States and its allies conducted major air strikes against Islamic State (ISIS) targets elsewhere in the country.
Clashes and Evacuations in Aleppo
According to an interior ministry official speaking to Agence France-Presse, the evacuations followed intense fighting in Aleppo's Sheikh Maqsoud district. Approximately 360 Kurdish fighters and 60 wounded personnel were bused to the Kurdish autonomous zone in north-eastern Syria.
A further 300 people, including members of the Kurdish internal security forces, were taken into custody. The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) confirmed it had agreed to a ceasefire and withdrawal from Aleppo, where it had controlled several districts.
The violence, which erupted on Tuesday, represents some of the worst fighting since the regime of Bashar al-Assad was ousted in December 2024. It followed stalled negotiations to integrate Kurdish forces into the country's new government under President Ahmed al-Sharaa.
Regional Tensions and Civilian Toll
The clashes have exposed a major faultline in Syria, with Kurdish forces resisting the Islamist-led government in Damascus. The situation has raised fears of a wider regional conflict. Neighbouring Turkey, an ally of Syria's new authorities, has stated it is ready to intervene, while Israel has sided with the Kurdish forces.
The human cost has been significant. At least 21 civilians have been killed, according to figures from both sides. Aleppo's governor reported that 155,000 people have fled their homes due to the violence. Each side has blamed the other for starting the hostilities.
By Sunday, state media reported that operations in Sheikh Maqsoud were finished and the last SDF fighters had left Aleppo under the ceasefire deal, which was mediated by international parties.
US-Led Coalition Strikes ISIS Targets
Separately, US Central Command announced that American and allied forces carried out "large-scale" strikes against ISIS in Syria on Saturday. The operation, dubbed Hawkeye Strike, was a direct response to a deadly attack in Palmyra on 13 December that killed two US soldiers and a civilian interpreter.
The Jordanian army confirmed its participation in the coordinated strikes, which aimed to neutralise the capabilities of terrorist groups. This was the first such attack on US personnel since the fall of the Assad regime. Although ISIS was largely defeated territorially, it maintains a presence, particularly in Syria's vast desert regions.
Calls for Restraint and Dialogue
The international community has urged a return to political dialogue. US envoy Tom Barrack met President al-Sharaa in Damascus on Saturday, calling for maximum restraint and an immediate cessation of hostilities. He stated that Secretary of State Marco Rubio's team was prepared to mediate.
Both the United States and the European Union have echoed calls for the parties to cease fighting and return to negotiations, highlighting the fragile and complex security landscape in Syria as it navigates a post-Assad political transition.
