Developments in northern Aleppo accelerated Thursday, January 8, as government officials said residents of Sheikh Maqsoud, Ashrafieh and Bani Zaid began handing over parts of their neighborhoods to state authorities following a day of heavy clashes and the launch of a limited security operation, by evening security forces had completely entered all of Ashrafieh to finalize securing the area.
A government source told Al-Ikhbariyah the handover took place amid successive defections by members of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), adding that Internal Security Forces were preparing to establish security across the area. Aleppo Governor Azzam al-Gharib said information received by the governorate indicated that large numbers of SDF members had defected in Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh, while others fled.
In a statement posted on Facebook, Gharib said Internal Security Forces were preparing to deploy inside the neighborhoods to secure them and allow the organized return of displaced residents. He urged residents not to return before operations were completed and to follow official instructions issued through approved platforms.
Curfews, Corridors and Civilian Movement
The Internal Security Command announced a full curfew in Ashrafieh, Sheikh Maqsoud, Bani Zaid, Suryan, Midan and Halak, effective Thursday evening until further notice. The measure followed the announcements of focused targeting operations against SDF positions after warnings for civilians to evacuate.
The Aleppo Governorate said two humanitarian corridors were opened through Awarid and Zuhur Street allowing civilians to leave Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh. According to SANA, officials accused the SDF of previously preventing residents from leaving.
Civil Defense officials told Al-Ikhbariyah that over 16,000 civilians left the two neighborhoods on Thursday alone, while Mahmoud Shehadeh, director of the International Cooperation Directorate in Aleppo, said an estimated 165,000 residents had been displaced overall, many sheltering with relatives inside the city.
Civil Defense teams reported responding to injuries and fires caused by shelling and said one of their ambulances was targeted by sniper fire while evacuating civilians, resulting in minor injuries to a paramedic.
University and Infrastructure Targeted
Authorities evacuated Aleppo University dormitories after artillery shells struck the complex, according to the Aleppo Governorate. Higher Education Minister Marwan al-Halabi said on X that the targeting endangered students and violated the sanctity of educational institutions. University President Osama Raadoun told Al-Ikhbariyah the dormitories housed students from all governorates and sustained material damage. Shelling also hit the Aleppo Water Authority and residential neighborhoods, while the Directorate of Internal Trade said bread production continued around the clock to meet civilian needs.
Strategic Routes and Historical Context
A Levant24 correspondent reported that government forces took control of Castello Road, a key supply route linking Aleppo to its northern countryside and the Turkish border. The road runs alongside Ashrafieh and Sheikh Maqsoud, areas that previously gave SDF-affiliated Asayish forces observation over traffic and nearby junctions.
The army has published maps of SDF positions slated for targeting, including sites in the Bani Zaid Housing Complex. The area served as a fortified western defensive line during the 2016 siege of eastern Aleppo, when YPG forces from Sheikh Maqsoud joined Assad regime troops against besieged civilians in liberated districts of the Aleppo.
Official Messaging and Ongoing Disputes
In a separate statement reported by SANA, the Syrian government said Kurds remain an integral part of Syrian society and that stability can only be achieved through state institutions, not weapons. Ahmad Zaidan, a media adviser to President Ahmad al-Sharaa, said broad social rejection of militia activity reflected opposition to division within Syrian society.
Asayish forces denied reports of large-scale withdrawals, saying clashes continued at a high pace. Despite competing claims, officials said security forces would continue operations while urging civilians to prioritize safety as conditions remain volatile.
