Aleppo Residents Face Uncertainty Amid Ongoing Syrian Conflict

Aleppo, Syria - A series of intense clashes has erupted in Aleppo, with reports indicating that the Syrian army and Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) forces are engaged in a fierce battle. According to eyewitnesses, heavy artillery shelling was constant throughout the day, and multiple attacks were made on Al Jazeera’s team.

The conflict is centered in densely populated areas of the city, including Ashrafieh and Sheikh Maqsoud districts, which have a combined population of approximately 400,000 residents. Within 24 hours of fighting beginning, an estimated 160,000 people fled their homes, resulting in a mass exodus.

On Thursday, the situation became increasingly dire, with civilians struggling to navigate the streets due to heavy shelling and gunfire. Children were seen crying out in panic, while families clung to each other for support as they tried to avoid being separated.

Eyewitness accounts suggest that the fighting has caused widespread destruction and chaos, with reports of civilians being trampled or injured during the conflict. The situation appears to be deteriorating, with multiple ceasefires failing to hold.

On Friday, a morning ceasefire was agreed upon, but it ultimately proved ineffective due to divisions within the SDF. Buses arrived to evacuate fighters, only to be met by further fighting. The Syrian government has set a deadline of 6pm for remaining civilians to flee, after which military operations against SDF targets will resume.

The conflict is characterized as a battle between government forces and non-state actors, with the Syrian army seeking to clear the area of SDF fighters. However, concerns have been raised about the potential for demographic displacement and the impact on local residents.

Source: Al Jazeera