Tens of thousands of civilians have been forced to flee their homes in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo, following an evacuation order issued by the Syrian army as it prepares for a new military offensive.
Evacuation Order and Intensifying Combat
The provincial government in Aleppo set a deadline of 1pm local time (10am UK time) on Thursday, 8 January 2026 for residents to leave several Kurdish-majority districts. The areas specified include Sheikh Maqsoud, Achrafieh, and Bani Zaid. The military later published maps delineating these no-go zones, stating it would begin "targeted operations" against the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) stationed there.
Shelling and drone strikes escalated sharply on Thursday afternoon, with reports of tanks moving into the neighbourhoods. The fighting, which began on Tuesday, marks a significant deterioration in relations between the Damascus government and the SDF.
Civilian Toll and Accusations of War Crimes
The humanitarian cost is mounting rapidly. Nearly 140,000 people have been displaced across Aleppo province, according to the local directorate of social affairs and labour. Mohammad Ali, operations director for the Syrian Civil Defence (White Helmets), stated that those fleeing include many women, children, elderly, and individuals with "difficult medical issues."
The SDF reported that at least eight civilians were killed in the Kurdish neighbourhoods. It has accused the Syrian government of forced displacement, suggesting such actions could constitute war crimes. Conversely, government officials said at least seven civilians and one soldier died in nearby government-controlled areas.
Broader Conflict and International Reaction
The current violence stems from the stalled integration of the SDF into the Syrian army, a process agreed upon in a March 2025 deal that envisaged full merger by the end of that year. The SDF, which controls much of northeast Syria and was a key US ally against Islamic State, has resisted integration following the overthrow of President Assad in late 2024.
International powers have called for restraint. A UN spokesperson stated Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is "alarmed by reports of civilian deaths and injuries," urging all sides to de-escalate. The US State Department said it was "closely monitoring the situation." There are also fears that continued instability could prompt military involvement from Turkey, which views the Kurdish fighters as terrorists.
The failure of integration talks, despite recent US-mediated efforts, now threatens to plunge Aleppo and surrounding regions into a new and devastating cycle of violence.
