Syrian Army Launches Major Offensive Against Kurdish Forces in North

The Syrian military has initiated a significant new offensive against the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) across northern Syria, marking a major escalation in the long-running struggle for control of the region [53732][44617][52760]. The operation, which includes airstrikes and ground advances, follows the collapse of negotiations aimed at integrating the SDF into the state's military structure [44841][52826].

In a series of statements, the Syrian Arab Army's Operations Command declared SDF positions in the northern city of Aleppo, specifically the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh neighborhoods, to be "legitimate military targets" [43807][43978]. The army warned civilians to stay away from these areas and announced a curfew [44617]. Officials stated the offensive aims to "end the presence of armed groups" and reclaim territory [46313][46435].

The SDF, a Kurdish-led militia that was the main United States ally in the fight against the Islamic State group, controls large parts of northeastern Syria [44841][52760]. It has rejected government ultimatums to surrender its weapons and positions, calling them unacceptable demands for capitulation [46313][46435]. In response to the attacks, Kurdish political authorities have declared a full mobilization [53732].

Experts view the offensive as a deliberate attempt by Damascus to dismantle the autonomous administration established by the SDF during Syria's civil war [52760]. "The operation aims to destroy the Syrian Democratic Forces," said Joshua Landis, Director of the University of Oklahoma's Center for Middle East Studies [52760]. The advance comes despite a recent presidential decree recognizing some Kurdish rights, which Kurdish leaders have dismissed as insufficient [52826].

The fighting has already caused civilian displacement, with thousands fleeing their homes in Aleppo province as clashes intensify [45585]. The violence shatters a period of relative calm and threatens to destabilize northern Syria further, risking a wider conflict between two of the region's most powerful military forces [44841][45585]. The United States, a former staunch backer of the SDF, has not intervened to halt the Syrian army's advance, leaving its former allies in a vulnerable position [52760].