Two weeks of clashes in Aleppo led to devastation in Kurdish neighbourhoods, formerly controlled by local Kurdish security forces for more than a decade.
There had been calls to integrate the Kurdish forces, who are linked to the Syrian Democratic Forces, with the new Syrian security forces. However, after clashes resulted in the Kurdish forces being forced out of the Kurdish neighbourhoods, Kurds were left fearing that the fate of Aleppo might lead to Damascus pressing its gains by attacking the SDF in eastern Syria.
The Syrian transitional government had used various methods to clear the neighborhoods Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh of Kurdish security forces, as Syria surrounded and bombarded them. The government called for the civilians to evacuate and declared the area a closed military zone.
After attempts at a ceasefire, many Kurds had to flee, and the remaining Kurdish fighters left for eastern Syria. “Attacks launched last week by factions within the Syrian Transitional Government's Ministry of Defense on the predominantly Kurdish neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh in Aleppo caused a large displacement of residents following days of violent clashes,” North Press agency in eastern Syria said on January 14.
Ahmed Sheikhmous, who is co-chair of the Office of Displaced Persons and Refugees in the Autonomous Administration, told North Press that 292 families have arrived in areas of northern and eastern Syria so far. “These families were distributed among the cities of northeastern Syria, including 93 families in the city of Hasakah, 13 in Kobani, 84 families in Qamishli, 74 families in Tabqa, and 28 families in the city of Raqqa.”
There are also concerns about how detainees are being treated by the Syrian authorities and about the desecration of the bodies of the fallen.
SDF condemns atrocity: Militia executed security member
“In a new atrocity in Sheikh Maqsoud, Damascus government militias executed a female member of the Internal Security forces in cold blood, proceeded to mutilate and abuse her body, and then discarded it by throwing it into the upper floors, a savage act that exposes their complete disregard for humanity and the laws of war,” the SDF said.
There were calls to investigate this incident. “The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) warned that Turkey’s direct and escalating intervention in Syria threatens to expand the scope of the ongoing conflict in the region, as Ankara intensifies its drone attacks and continues to fly warplanes over areas in the north and east of the country,” North Press reported.
“The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said in a field update on Wednesday that a Turkish Bayraktar drone targeted one of its military positions in the village of al-Bu'asi, in the countryside of Tabqa city, wounding several of its fighters who were subsequently transferred for medical treatment. The SDF clarified that this attack was the third by Turkish drones in a single week.”
US Central Command had also put out a statement this week saying the US was closely monitoring developments in Aleppo. It is clear that there is intense concern now that the clashes in Aleppo may be a curtain raiser for more clashes in eastern Syria.
The SDF said on January 13 that “in the context of ongoing escalation, a Turkish Bayraktar drone targeted a military position belonging to our forces in the city of Maskanah without causing any casualties. This marks the second attack of the day, reflecting a serious and continuous escalation in the area.” This is the same report noted by North Press.
The major concern now shifts to Dayr Hafir and a frontline between the SDF and the Syrian government forces that stretches along areas near the Euphrates, as some of these areas the SDF had seized when the Syrian regime fell, especially a pocket of control near Dayr Hafir, close to the village of Maskanah.
Turkish media, known to be pro-government, is chomping at the bit for a conflict, which reflects Ankara’s views. TRT, for instance, in Turkey says “Syrian army sends reinforcements to eastern Aleppo amid tensions with YPG terror group.” This is how Ankara’s media often refers to the SDF, calling it a terrorist group.
It is unclear if western countries or others can get Damascus to now de-escalate or if the battles in Aleppo will now lead to worse clashes along a long front line between the SDF and Damascus-backed forces. Both Damascus and the SDF are backed by the US.