Relative calm in Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh neighborhoods after military escalation in Aleppo

The Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh neighborhoods in the city of Aleppo recorded relative calm today, following a violent military escalation they witnessed last night, which included attacks using tanks, rocket launchers, and heavy artillery.

Local sources reported that factions affiliated with Syria’s transitional government launched a wide-scale attack on the two neighborhoods on Monday evening, leading to the shelling of the Sheikh Maqsoud, Ashrafieh, and Bani Zaid areas with heavy weapons. According to a preliminary toll, the shelling resulted in the killing of one woman and the injury of 19 civilians, in addition to six members of the Internal Security Forces being wounded.

The escalation came after a joint press conference held by Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan, following a visit by a high-level Turkish delegation to Damascus that included the foreign minister, defense minister, and the head of intelligence.

The Internal Security Forces in Aleppo said they responded to the “sources of fire” and managed to thwart the attacks in the vicinity of the two neighborhoods, considering that the escalation began with the targeting of one of their checkpoints, which led to the injury of two of their members. The General Command of the Internal Security Forces announced, in a statement issued at 23:15, that it had instructed its forces to halt responses to the attacks, in response to efforts and communications aimed at de-escalation.

For her part, the General Official of Internal Security in Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh, Akheen Nojan, confirmed that local forces are capable of protecting and defending residents, while stressing the rejection of escalation and affirming that no party has an interest in the expansion of clashes. She noted the intensification of field and political efforts to contain the situation and safeguard civilian security.

In a related context, the Syrian Democratic Forces denied reports circulated by media outlets affiliated with the transitional government regarding the shelling of al-Razi Hospital in Aleppo, describing the news as “incorrect.”

Cities and areas across the North and East Syria region also witnessed solidarity demonstrations in support of the residents of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh. In a statement, the Democratic Autonomous Administration held the transitional government responsible for the attacks, considering them to contribute to destabilization and the creation of a state of chaos in the country.