Syrian Army Aleppo Kurdish Withdrawal 2026: The Violent Struggle for Unity

The promise of a unified Syria is facing its bloodiest test yet. On January 10, 2026, the Syrian army moved to seize control of the Sheikh Maksoud neighborhood in Aleppo. According to Reuters, the maneuver followed the collapse of a fragile ceasefire, forcing dozens of Kurdish fighters and hundreds of civilians to flee the city's second-largest hub.

Syrian Army Aleppo Kurdish Withdrawal 2026 and Diplomatic Deadlock

The violence has deepened the faultlines within a nation trying to rebuild after 14 years of war. President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who took power after the fall of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, has struggled to integrate the autonomous Kurdish regions into his Islamist-led administration. This week's clashes have already displaced more than 140,000 people, with reports of security forces detaining over 100 men in civilian clothes, identified by the army as surrendered Asayish fighters.

U.S. envoy Tom Barrack met with Sharaa in Damascus to mediate the crisis, noting that Secretary of State Marco Rubio's team is ready to step in. Meanwhile, Turkey has hinted at a divide within Kurdish factions, suggesting some leaders like Mazloum Abdi might be willing to compromise, even as street battles continue near Aleppo's local infrastructure.