Syria’s government declared Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh a closed military zone as fighting with SDF escalated, with civilian deaths reported and mass evacuations underway.

The Syrian army declared Aleppo's Kurdish neighbourhoods as closed military zones on Wednesday, as days of violence continued to escalate in the city. The army statement said two humanitarian corridors would be opened from neighbourhoods controlled by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to allow civilians to flee.

At least nine people have been killed in renewed clashes between Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa’s forces and Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Aleppo. As both sides blame each other, continued tensions have raised the risk of Turkey’s intervention.

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A prominent United States senator told Rudaw he is optimistic about Syria’s future under its new government, emphasizing that progress depends on the inclusion of all components of the country,

Abdi is meeting with Syrian government officials in the country’s capital to further discuss sticking points in the Kurdish forces’ integration agreement.