In the heart of the Sheikh Maqsoud neighbourhood in Aleppo, northern Syria, 55-year-old Liza Hajoub stands in shock, surveying the scale of destruction left by days of intense shelling between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Syrian army.
If anything, the neighbourhood now resembles a newspaper image of a massive explosion, with homes partially or completely destroyed, windows shattered, and furniture scattered amid the lingering smell of smoke and gunpowder.
The destruction extends far beyond homes. Mosques that once served as community hubs now stand in ruins, their shattered minarets bearing the scars of the violence that tore through the heart of local life.
On the streets, the damage is equally stark. Burnt-out vehicles litter the roads, dust and smoke hang heavy in the air, and an eerie silence settles over the rubble-strewn neighbourhoods.
For those still in the city, every street corner tells a story of loss.
Caught between shelling and checkpoints
Over the past week, violence and fear in Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh have been driven largely by stalled talks over integrating Kurdish-led institutions and SDF fighters into the Syrian state, despite an agreement reached between the two sides in March last year.
Amid the fighting, civilians found themselves trapped as SDF fighters blocked their exit, even when so-called safe corridors were open, leaving residents caught between 'four walls of fire' behind military checkpoints that ignored humanitarian concerns.
Shirin, a Kurdish woman from the neighbourhood who suffers from diabetes, described her ordeal to The New Arab. "I repeatedly tried to leave to find a doctor, but every checkpoint refused to let me pass," she said.
Speaking in a trembling voice, she added, "I could hear the shelling above our heads, and I feared dying slowly without medicine more than dying instantly under the bombardment."
Ibrahim Bouzo, in his 50s, shared a similar account. He said he repeatedly tried to protect his family and escape to safety but was stopped at multiple checkpoints, where his pleas were ignored, and the threat of gunfire forced him and his family back into the conflict zone.
In another incident, a group of residents said they were forced back into the neighbourhood after reaching a checkpoint. They then endured hours of waiting as shelling continued during what residents described as the two bloodiest days of the fighting.
As civilians remained trapped and access to medical care became increasingly restricted, the fighting quickly escalated into a humanitarian emergency.
For example, the only hospital in Sheikh Maqsoud went out of service after being struck for the fourth time. At the same time, Ousman Hospital in the neighbouring Ashrafieh district was directly attacked, worsening the health crisis and raising fears of a complete medical collapse.
Life returns, but danger looms
After days of fighting and a ceasefire eventually taking hold, the horrors of continued destruction were put to an end, with the Syrian army declaring Sheikh Maqsoud fully secured and paving the way for remaining SDF fighters to move to northeastern Syria under agreed security arrangements.
As cautious calm began to spread, government bodies moved to reorganise conditions in the neighbourhood. Emergency and relief teams arrived to distribute food and water, while engineering units began clearing mines and unexploded ordnance to make the streets safe, and temporary medical centres were opened to treat patients who had been trapped for days.
Efforts to restore basic services also began. Maintenance teams started repairing damaged electricity and water networks, and authorities announced the gradual return of power and water pumping from early morning. Residents described the move as a 'glimmer of hope'.
Speaking at a press conference, Aleppo Governor Azzam al-Gharib said security conditions were improving significantly in Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh. He also said relevant authorities were working around the clock to stabilise the situation and support a return to normal life.
"The government has worked from the first moment to prepare conditions for the return of displaced people," he said, adding that efforts were continuing to restore daily activity in affected areas.
Even after assurances that the fighting had largely ended, fear persists. Concerns of renewed violence resurfaced on 14 January, when reports emerged of clashes between the SDF and the Syrian army in Deir Hafer. No casualties were reported immediately, but the incidents could signal a dangerous escalation in northern Syria.
The threat became even clearer on 15 January, when the Syrian army gave civilians around Deir Hafer a deadline to leave the area ahead of a planned battle for the town.
The move appears to be part of a broader offensive to capture SDF-held territories west of the Euphrates River.
For civilians, the return of conflict is a grim reminder of the cost of war. Even as the dust begins to settle on shattered homes and streets, memories of past violence and the threat of armed groups linger.
For many, rebuilding life is not just about fixing walls — it's about restoring a sense of safety and dignity. How these latest clashes will affect those who have already endured so much is unclear. Only time will tell.
This is an edited translation from our Arabic edition, translated by Afrah Almatwari; to read the original, click here.