Syria reopens access to Kurdish districts in Aleppo
Move marks de-escalation between government forces and Kurdish-led SDF after days of heightened military tension
ALEPPO, Syria (MNTV) — The Syrian government has lifted all restrictions on access to Kurdish-held districts in Aleppo, reopening major routes to Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh in a sign of easing tensions following days of confrontation with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
According to local officials, vehicles and pedestrians were allowed to move freely through the Serian entrance into Sheikh Maqsoud, while supply convoys began delivering essential goods, including vegetables, to areas that had faced severe shortages during the blockade.
The move comes after a week-long standoff between Syrian forces and the SDF that brought the two sides to the brink of urban warfare. A ceasefire was declared on Tuesday, reportedly with diplomatic assistance from the United States.
Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh, both Kurdish-majority neighborhoods, have remained under SDF control since the fall of former President Bashar al-Assad’s regime last December, which ended nearly 14 years of civil war.
The new administration under President Ahmad Al Shara has been pursuing the integration of SDF fighters into the national army, but the process has seen little progress.
In March, Al Shara signed an agreement with SDF commander Mazloum Abdi to begin formal integration, though officials confirmed no timeline or concrete steps have been set.
Foreign Minister Asaad Al Shibani said during a visit to Turkey that the deal “remains ink on paper,” highlighting ongoing friction between Damascus and Kurdish authorities.
The SDF, originally established with U.S. backing, continues to maintain control over much of northern and eastern Syria and has resisted both Turkish and Syrian government pressure to dissolve.
The group’s influence has grown amid ongoing instability and minority tensions in post-Assad Syria.
Despite the reopening of routes in Aleppo, government forces have maintained positions around Sheikh Maqsoud, raising concerns about future military escalation.
On Thursday, the SDF reported foiling an infiltration attempt by government-linked militants near the Tishreen Dam in eastern Aleppo, underscoring lingering hostilities despite recent de-escalation measures.
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