Fighting Erupts in Aleppo, Forcing Over 140,000 to Flee as Ceasefire Holds

Fighting Erupts in Aleppo, Forcing Over 140,000 to Flee as Ceasefire Holds Intense clashes between Syrian government forces and Kurdish-led fighters have shattered a fragile calm in Aleppo, triggering a mass civilian exodus and a new humanitarian crisis in Syria's largest city. The fighting, which erupted earlier this week, represents the most severe violence in the country in over six months [45816]. Syrian army units and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) exchanged fire in several districts, including Sheikh Maqsoud and areas near critical supply routes into the city [43634] [44681]. The violence forced the closure of Aleppo's airport, schools, and shops, and led authorities to impose a city-wide curfew [45172]. The immediate consequence was a rapid and large-scale displacement of civilians. More than 140,000 people fled their homes amid heavy shelling over three days of combat [45816] [45173]. The Syrian army distributed evacuation maps to residents in several neighborhoods, urging them to use designated safe routes to leave conflict zones [44681]. Thousands of families were reported seeking safety away from the front lines, though exact numbers remain difficult to confirm [45585] [45172]. Following the deadly clashes, which caused multiple casualties, the Syrian government announced a ceasefire that took effect in the early hours of Thursday morning [45816] [32516]. The truce terms include the withdrawal of Kurdish fighters from the contested neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud, Ashrafieh, and Bani Zaid, with safe passage granted to Kurdish-administered areas in northeast Syria [45816] [47153]. A U.S. envoy has welcomed the pause in hostilities [45816]. The fighting underscores the unresolved and tense standoff between the Damascus government and the SDF, which controls large parts of northern and eastern Syria [45585] [44681]. The clashes broke out after political talks aimed at integrating the SDF into the national army stalled, creating a dangerous vacuum [45588] [45585]. While the ceasefire is now in place, its durability remains uncertain, leaving displaced civilians in limbo and threatening to unravel the relative stability in northern Syria [45816] [44512]. Syria's Aleppo Truce Shatters, Thousands Flee as U.S. Mediates Aleppo Exodus: Fighting Erupts as Syria Peace Talks Fail Syrian Army and US-Backed Forces Clash in Aleppo Syrian Army Advances on Aleppo, Sparking Mass Exodus Syrian Army Distributes Evacuation Maps in Aleppo Amid Clashes Syria's Kurds and Army Clash, Risking Major War Syria Announces Aleppo Ceasefire After Clashes Displace 140,000 Syria's Aleppo: Army Strikes Kurds, Thousands Flee