A fragile ceasefire in aleppo, Syria has collapsed, raising the specter of renewed conflict between Syrian government forces and Kurdish groups Reuters reported Saturday. The breakdown follows Kurdish rejection of a demand to withdraw from the city, threatening to further destabilize the region as president al-Sharaa’s government seeks to consolidate control. The situation underscores the ongoing challenges to lasting peace in Syria, more than a decade after the start of the civil war and amidst continued regional and international involvement.
Daftar Isi
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – A potential escalation of conflict looms in Aleppo, Syria, as government forces prepare for a possible military operation to end Kurdish control of the city. The move comes after Kurdish groups rejected demands for withdrawal as part of a recently announced ceasefire agreement. The Syrian military stated Friday it would move to enter the last district in the city still held by Kurdish forces.
According to a military statement, as reported by Reuters on Saturday, January 10, 2026, the decision follows the refusal of Kurdish groups in Aleppo to withdraw their fighters to northeastern Syria, a region largely controlled by Kurdish forces. This rejection effectively derailed the ceasefire announced just hours earlier.
The renewed violence in Aleppo highlights a key fracture line in post-conflict Syria as the country attempts to rebuild. Kurdish forces continue to resist efforts by the government of President Ahmed al-Sharaa, led by Islamist groups, to centralize control of all armed forces under the state.
At least nine civilians have been reported killed, and more than 140,000 people have been displaced from their homes in Aleppo. Kurdish forces maintain a presence in several neighborhoods they have controlled since the beginning of the Syrian civil war in 2011.
The Syrian Defense Ministry announced a ceasefire overnight, requiring Kurdish forces to withdraw to the northeast. Had it been implemented, the move would have ended Kurdish control over the remaining pockets they hold in Aleppo.
Ceasefire Deemed a Failure
However, in a formal statement, Kurdish councils governing the Sheikh Maksoud and Ashrafiyah districts of Aleppo rejected the demand, calling the call for withdrawal a “call for surrender.” They affirmed that Kurdish forces would “defend our neighborhoods” and accused government forces of intensive shelling.
Hours later, the Syrian military declared the deadline for Kurdish forces to withdraw had expired and that a military operation would begin to retake Sheikh Maksoud, the last district still under Kurdish control.
Two Syrian security officials told Reuters that the ceasefire attempt had failed and the army would seize the territory by force.
Previously, the Syrian Defense Ministry launched attacks on parts of Sheikh Maksoud allegedly used by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to target “citizens of Aleppo.” On Friday, the ministry said SDF attacks had killed three Syrian soldiers.
Kurdish security forces in Aleppo stated that some government attacks hit a hospital, calling it a war crime. The Defense Ministry denied the accusation, claiming the building was actually a large weapons depot destroyed in Friday’s strikes.
The ministry also released aerial footage it claimed showed the location after the attack, with secondary explosions visible as evidence that it was a weapons cache.
The SDF is a powerful Kurdish-led security force that controls much of northeastern Syria. The group stated it had withdrawn its fighters from Aleppo last year, handing over security in Kurdish neighborhoods to the Asayish police force.
Under an agreement with Damascus in March of last year, the SDF was to be integrated into the Syrian Defense Ministry by the end of 2025. However, progress toward that goal has been described as minimal.
Western De-escalation Efforts
The French Foreign Ministry stated it was working with the United States to de-escalate tensions. President Emmanuel Macron reportedly urged President al-Sharaa on Thursday “to exercise restraint and reaffirm France’s commitment to a united Syria, where all segments of Syrian society are represented and protected,” according to a statement.
A Western diplomat told Reuters that mediation efforts are focused on calming the situation and reaching an agreement allowing Kurdish forces to leave Aleppo while providing security guarantees for Kurdish residents who remain.
The diplomat also said that U.S. envoy Tom Barrack was en route to Damascus.
Washington has been closely involved in pushing for integration between the SDF, which has received U.S. military support, and the Damascus government, whose close ties with the United States have developed under President Donald Trump.
Warning from Turkey
Meanwhile, Turkey views the SDF as a terrorist organization linked to the banned Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and has warned of military action if the group does not comply with the integration agreement.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, speaking on Thursday, expressed hope that the situation in Aleppo could be normalized “through the withdrawal of SDF elements.”
Despite al-Sharaa, a former al Qaeda commander from a Sunni Muslim majority background, repeatedly promising to protect minority groups, a series of violent incidents throughout last year, in which government-affiliated fighters killed hundreds of Alawites and Druze, has raised widespread anxiety among minority communities.
Kurdish councils in Aleppo stated that Damascus cannot be trusted “to guarantee our security and our neighborhoods,” accusing attacks on Kurdish areas of aiming to trigger displacement.
In a phone conversation with Kurdish Iraqi leader Masoud Barzani on Friday, President al-Sharaa affirmed that Kurds are “an integral part of the national structure of Syria.”
As of now, neither the Syrian government nor Kurdish forces have announced casualty figures on their respective sides from the latest clashes.
(luc/luc)
