Ceasefire Halts Deadly Clashes in Aleppo as Syrian Army and Kurdish-Led SDF Step Back

Syrian government forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have agreed to a ceasefire in the northern city of Aleppo, pulling back after a sudden wave of attacks left at least two civilians dead. The agreement, reported on December 23, 2025, comes amid heightened tensions during a visit by Turkey's Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan.

A Truce Forged Under Diplomatic Pressure

The deadly clashes erupted on December 22 during a sensitive diplomatic visit by Fidan. According to Syria’s state news agency SANA, the army’s general command issued an order late Monday to halt attacks on SDF fighters.

The fighting appears to have been triggered by recent comments from Fidan. On Monday, he stated that the SDF seemed to have no intention of honoring its pledge to integrate into the state’s armed forces by an agreed year-end deadline, according to Reuters.

De-escalation Confirmed by Both Sides

Following the report from SANA, the SDF issued its own statement confirming the de-escalation. The group said it had instructed its forces to stop responding to attacks from government troops after contacts were made to cool the situation. While the immediate violence has paused, the core issues of territorial control and the SDF's future status remain unresolved.