Iraqi Kurdish leaders urge restraint and renewed talks following fatal clashes in Aleppo’s mainly Kurdish neighbourhoods, which left several civilians dead and many wounded.
Fighting began on Tuesday, hours after Syria, Israel, and the US agreed to steps to de-escalate the situation in southern Syria. Syrian government and Turkey-backed groups attacked the neighbourhoods, warning civilians to leave. Damascus then declared the areas closed military zones.
Fethullah Husseini, who represents the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) in the Kurdistan Region, told The New Arab that at least eight civilians were killed, and 41 others were wounded in the attacks.
He further claimed the assault was carried out by Turkey-backed groups recently added to Syria's defence ministry, which are fighting on the side of the Syrian government. These groups include Division 62 (the Suleiman Shah Brigade, or al-Amshat), Division 72 (the Sultan Murad Division), Division 76 (the Hamza Division), and Division 80 (the Nour al-Din al-Zenki Movement).
Husseini described the attackers "gangster militias taking orders from Turkey and recognised by the United States as terrorist groups," accusing them of past mass killings against Alawite and Druze communities and of now targeting Kurds in Aleppo.
He noted a lack of active mediation from Kurdish parties or the international community, and said Washington had yet to take a clear stance.
While some families have left, Husseini added that most Kurdish residents remain in the neighbourhoods.
For its part, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh have been under siege by Damascus for six months. They denied any military presence in Aleppo, stating that security had been handed over to local forces.
The SDF accused pro-government groups of fabricating Kurdish military activity to justify the siege and attacks, warning that continued violence could have repercussions beyond Aleppo and push Syria toward wider conflict. They urged guarantor states and Syrian authorities to end the assault and lift the siege, emphasising that civilian targeting violates international law.
The violence drew strong responses from top Kurdish leaders in Iraq. Masoud Barzani, who leads the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), warned of a "serious threat" to civilians in Aleppo and spoke about "the danger of ethnic cleansing against Kurds in that area." He urged Syrian authorities not to let political disputes become ethnic conflict and called on all Kurdish parties, especially the SDF, to do everything they can to stop the fighting and prevent more bloodshed.
Bafel Talabani, leader of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), said he is watching the situation "with deep concern." He called on everyone involved to exercise restraint and solve the crisis through talks and negotiation. "I support any effort aimed at de-escalating the situation and resolving the issues through peaceful means," he said.
The Kurdish National Council in Syria expressed deep concern, warning that declaring the neighbourhoods military zones and ordering evacuations could increase deaths and instability. The council urged an immediate halt to military action, the lifting of the siege, and the provision of access to aid.
UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said the secretary-general was alarmed by reports of civilian casualties and urged all sides to protect civilians, de-escalate, and show restraint as required by international humanitarian law.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that approximately 30,000 people have been displaced by the fighting.
More than 2,000 families have relocated to the Afrin district, and approximately 1,100 people are staying in nine collective centres in Aleppo.
Thousands more left Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh on Wednesday, looking for safety with host communities as fears of more violence grow.