A series of clashes broke out in the Syrian city of Aleppo, in which two civilians were killed and several others were injured.
The reason for the clash is not yet clear. Syrian government forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) blamed each other for the two deaths.
Both died as a result of SDF shelling in an Aleppo neighborhood, according to state news agency SANA, citing the city’s health directorate. SANA also cited the Syrian Defense Ministry, which blamed the SDF for attacks on two Aleppo neighborhoods.
In response, the SDF said that the bombing was carried out by groups affiliated with the Syrian government led by Ahmed al-Sharaa. The government has denied this allegation.
The SDF also accused Syrian government forces of firing on a Kurdish checkpoint.
Turkish Foreign Minister visited Syria
Just hours before the attacks, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan visited Damascus and blamed the SDF for failing to integrate its weapons into the Syrian army by the end of the year, the originally agreed upon deadline.
“Syria’s stability means Türkiye’s stability. This is extremely important for us,” Fidan said. He called on the SDF to “stop Syria from becoming an obstacle to achieving stability, unity and prosperity.”
The SDF, which controls large parts of northeastern Syria despite being backed by the US, is viewed as a terrorist organization by Turkey due to its ties to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). Ankara has also threatened to take military action against the SDF.
Türkiye was one of the major countries that put pressure on US President Donald Trump to lift the sanctions on Syria. The country’s military provided training to soldiers and officers of the Syrian Army, which was reinstated after the fall of Bashar Assad.
Edited by: Dmytro Lyubenko