140,000 Flee Aleppo as Syrian Army & Kurds Reignite War

Fresh fighting between the Syrian army and Kurdish-led forces has shattered a fragile calm in Aleppo, forcing over 140,000 civilians to flee their homes in the deadliest escalation in six months [45588][45816].

Clashes erupted this week in the northern city, pitting government troops against the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in neighborhoods including Sheikh Maqsoud, Ashrafieh, and Bani Zaid [49667][43634][45816]. The Syrian army accused the SDF of shelling residential areas, while Kurdish forces blamed the government for starting the violence [43634][44088].

The Syrian government responded by distributing evacuation maps and imposing a curfew, halting flights at Aleppo airport and shutting schools, universities, and shops [44681][45172][44088]. State forces also detained 300 Kurds and bused 400 wounded fighters to the Kurdish-run northeast [47153].

After three days of heavy shelling, a ceasefire was declared early Friday, allowing Kurdish militants to withdraw from contested zones with light weapons [45816]. A US envoy welcomed the pause, but analysts warn the truce is fragile, with both sides deeply opposed on key issues [45816][45585].

Turkey urged Kurdish groups not to block stability, as the violence threatens to open a new front in Syria's multi-sided war [33236][45173]. The United Nations warned the escalation risks a "humanitarian catastrophe" for the millions already displaced [45588][45585].