Relative calm in Sheikh Maqsoud, Ashrafieh neighborhoods

The Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh neighborhoods in the city of Aleppo are currently witnessing a cautious calm after a night of intense escalation. On Monday, factions affiliated with the transitional government in Syria launched a wide-scale assault on the areas, using tanks, rocket launchers, and heavy artillery.

The attack came after a joint press conference held by Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, following a visit by a Turkish delegation to Damascus that included Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Defense Minister Yaşar Güler, and Intelligence Chief İbrahim Kalın.

The neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud, Ashrafieh, and Bani Zaid were subjected to heavy shelling with heavy weapons, resulting in the martyrdom of one woman and the injury of 19 civilians, in addition to injuries to six members of the Internal Security Forces. Tanks and heavy artillery were seen targeting densely populated residential areas.

The Internal Security Forces in Aleppo responded to the sources of fire and managed to repel the attacks in the vicinity of the two neighborhoods. They confirmed that the factions affiliated with the transitional government initiated the escalation by targeting the al-Sheihan checkpoint, which led to the injury of two of their members.

In a statement, the General Commander of Internal Security in Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh, Akhin Nujan, affirmed that they possess full capability to protect and defend civilians. She stressed that they are not advocates of war and do not see escalation as serving the interests of any party. She added that field and political efforts are currently intensifying to halt the clashes and prevent their expansion, in order to reinforce de-escalation and safeguard civilian security and the stability of the city.

The attacks began at approximately 17:40. At 23:15, the General Command of the Internal Security Forces in Aleppo issued a statement to the public announcing that it had instructed its forces to cease responding to the factions’ attacks, in response to ongoing de-escalation communications.

Meanwhile, the Syrian Democratic Forces denied reports circulated by media outlets affiliated with the transitional government alleging shelling of al-Razi Hospital in Aleppo, describing the claims as fabricated and false, aimed at misinformation and distorting the facts.

In solidarity with the two neighborhoods, thousands of residents and components of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria took part in marches supporting the people of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh.

In a statement, the Autonomous Administration said that the transitional government’s attacks on Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh directly contribute to creating chaos, undermining stability, and disrupting the overall Syrian atmosphere. It added that these actions serve only Syria’s enemies and revive practices reminiscent of the Baathist regime, stressing: “We hold the officials of the transitional government fully responsible for these attacks.”

A-H 

ANHA