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 the Syrian army and Kurdish-led forces have shattered a period of calm in Aleppo, triggering a mass civilian exodus and prompting a fragile, U.S.-welcomed ceasefire. The fighting, which erupted earlier this week, represents the most severe violence in Syria in over six months [45816]. It centered on the Kurdish-held neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud, Ashrafieh, and Bani Zaid in the divided city [45816] [32527]. The Syrian army and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) exchanged fire, with both sides blaming the other for initiating hostilities [44512] [44088]. The escalation forced a rapid and large-scale displacement of civilians. More than 140,000 people fled their homes under heavy shelling to escape the front lines [45816] [45173]. The Syrian army distributed evacuation maps to residents in several neighborhoods, urging them to use designated safe routes [44681]. The violence also forced the closure of Aleppo's airport, schools, and universities [45172]. Following three days of deadly clashes, the Syrian government announced a ceasefire that took effect in the early hours of Thursday morning [45816] [32516]. The terms of the truce stipulate that Kurdish fighters will withdraw from the contested Aleppo neighborhoods and receive safe passage to northeast Syria, an area controlled by the SDF [45816]. A U.S. envoy has welcomed the pause in hostilities [45816]. The clashes underscore the unresolved and tense relationship between the Damascus government and the SDF, which controls large parts of northern and eastern Syria [45585] [44681]. This recent surge in violence marks a significant escalation of periodic clashes and threatens to unravel the relative stability in northern Syria [44512] [49667]. Syria's Aleppo Truce Shatters, Thousands Flee as U.S. Mediates Aleppo Exodus: Fighting Erupts as Syria Peace Talks Fail Fresh Clashes Erupt Between Syrian Army and Kurdish Forces Syrian Army and US-Backed Forces Clash in Aleppo Syrian Army Advances on Aleppo, Sparking Mass Exodus Syria Detains, Expels Kurds in Aleppo as US Bombs ISIS Syrian Forces and Kurds Clash, Then Halt Fire After Deadly Fighting Aleppo Clashes Follow Secret Syria-Israel Talks Syrian Army Distributes Evacuation Maps in Aleppo Amid Clashes Deadly Clashes in Aleppo as Turkey Urges Kurdish Integration 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 Clashes Erupt Between Kurdish Forces and Syrian Army in Aleppo