Syria Aleppo Clashes 2026: 140,000 Flee as Fragile Post-Assad Unity Shatters

The promise of national unity is drowning in the roar of artillery. Aleppo is burning once again as the fragile peace established after the 2024 ousting of Bashar al-Assad crumbles into open warfare.

According to Reuters, fighting intensified on January 8, 2026, between Syrian government troops and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The escalation has already driven more than 140,000 people from their homes and claimed at least seven civilian lives. President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who pledged to reunite the nation after 14 years of civil war, now faces his most significant challenge yet.

Escalation of Syria Aleppo Clashes 2026

The Syrian army issued evacuation warnings for Kurdish-held neighborhoods, including Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh, before launching strikes. While the government maintains that stability requires state control over all weapons, the Asayish (Kurdish security forces) have denied requesting safe passage, instead calling for a government withdrawal.

Stalled Integration and Geopolitical Friction

Negotiations for the full integration of the SDF into the national army were supposed to be completed by the end of 2025. However, progress has stalled, with both sides accusing the other of bad faith. Tom Barrack, the U.S. special envoy, stated that Washington remains ready to mediate, though recent talks on Sunday yielded no results.