Kurdish neighborhoods Council in Aleppo Seek to Defuse Tensions with Damascus
Sheikh Maqsoud/Ashrafiyeh Council urge dialogue after government forces' "provocative acts." SDF warns of self-defense while Autonomous Administration denies separatist claims during Damascus talks.
Erbil (Kurdistan24) – The Council of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh, two predominantly Kurdish neighborhoods in Aleppo, affirmed on Wednesday that they are working to calm the situation amid growing frictions between Syrian government forces and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the region.
Speaking to Kurdistan24, Nouri Sheikho, Deputy Head of the General Council of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh, said tensions have risen in recent days following the closure of the "Unity of Components" conference in Hasakah. “On social media and in various statements, hostile rhetoric against the Autonomous Administration has escalated,” he noted.
Sheikho stressed that their communication and negotiations with the Syrian government are ongoing with the aim of restoring calm. He urged Damascus to “halt the escalation, act with national wisdom, and resolve disputes through dialogue, as war only brings destruction.”
From a local perspective, journalist Fadel Mohammed from Ashrafiyeh told Kurdistan24 that despite some “provocative actions,” the situation on the ground remains calm and under control. He added that the Syrian government has made no tangible initiatives toward the two Kurdish neighborhoods, and talks between the councils and Syrian official entities are continuing.
In a separate statement, the SDF said Syrian government forces have recently attempted to stir unrest through “provocative acts,” but so far, the SDF has not taken any action in response. The force warned that if such provocations continue, they will respond within their legitimate right to self-defense. According to the SDF, these actions undermine the ceasefire agreement reached between the councils of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh and the Syrian government, and are incompatible with existing understandings.
The SDF called on Damascus to control its armed groups to prevent actions that could derail agreements and to safeguard civil peace in Aleppo and other regions.
Damascus had boycotted the “Unity of Components Conference” held on August 9 in Hasakah, accusing the SDF and the Autonomous Administration of attempting to advance a “separatist agenda.” However, Autonomous Administration officials have strongly rejected this claim, affirming their commitment to Syria’s territorial integrity. Ilham Ahmed, a senior official of the Administration, said they reject any form of division and are committed to a united Syrian homeland.
On Monday evening, a delegation from the Autonomous Administration, led by Ilham Ahmed—who also serves as Co-Chair of the Administration’s Foreign Relations Department—arrived in Damascus to discuss ways to ease tensions with the Syrian government. The two sides agreed to hold several meetings in the coming period to address ongoing disputes.
