October 2025 Aleppo clashes
The October 2025 Aleppo clashes were a continuation of the broader SDF–Syrian transitional government clashes and led to intensive clashes in Aleppo, Syria. The fighting was centered around the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyah neighborhoods, both of which are Kurdish-majority districts and under the control of the Syrian Democratic Forces -affiliated Asayish police force. Similar clashes followed in December and January 2026.
Background
Since the beginning of the Syrian civil war, Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyah have been under local Kurdish administration and maintained a semi-autonomous status within Aleppo. Tensions between the Kurdish authorities and government-aligned forces have occasionally flared due to disputes over control, movement, and security in these districts.On 4 April, an agreement was reached in Aleppo between the neighborhood councils of Ashrafiyah and Sheikh Maqsoud and the Syrian governments' presidential committee to implement the terms of a settlement with the SDF, which had controlled the two neighborhoods for several years. Under the agreement, a security center affiliated with the Syrian Ministry of Interior would be established in both neighborhoods, while the main checkpoints would remain under the supervision of the Asayish and the ministry's internal security forces.
Before fighting errupted in Aleppo, tensions escalated on 5 October, between the SDF and government forces in Dayr Hafir, east of Aleppo.
Timeline
On 6 October 2025, clashes erupted between forces affiliated with the Syrian Democratic Forces and government troops in the neighborhoods of Ashrafiyah and Sheikh Maqsoud. Following the confrontation, government forces closed all roads leading into the two neighborhoods, effectively restricting movement and access. Residents protested the closures, demanding freedom of movement, and some demonstrations were met with tear gas and live fire by security forces.Heavy exchanges of fire, including small arms and medium weapons, were reported in the neighborhoods, resulting in casualties on both sides and displacing some families. Kurdish authorities accused the government-aligned forces of attempting to infiltrate the neighborhoods and targeting civilians. The Syrian Ministry of Defense stated that army movements in northern and northeastern Syria respond 'to repeated SDF attacks on civilians and security forces'. Calm returned to the Kurdish-majority neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyah after a preliminary agreement between Syrian government forces and the Syrian Democratic Forces.
Aftermath
On 7 October, following the heavy clashes between the SDF and the Transitional Government, a delegation consisting of SDF General Commander Mazloum Abdi, Co-Chair of the Department of Foreign Relations Ilham Ahmed, and Women's Protection Units Commander Rojhilat Afrin met with transitional government leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra, and Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani.The U.S.-backed meeting resulted in the signing of a comprehensive ceasefire agreement between both sides across "all fronts and deployment areas." Defense minister Abu Qasra wrote on X that "the implementation of this agreement begin immediately."