Tens of thousands of civilians are fleeing northern Aleppo as clashes between Syrian government forces and Kurdish-led fighters escalate, exacerbating an already severe humanitarian crisis in the city.
On Thursday, Syrian authorities issued evacuation warnings for neighborhoods including Sheikh Maqsoud, Achrafieh, and Bani Zaid, maintaining a safe corridor for a second consecutive day and setting a deadline for residents to leave ahead of planned military operations. Sporadic shelling was reported as families streamed out of the affected areas.
Local officials estimate that nearly 140,000 people have been displaced across Aleppo province. Rescue workers report that many of those fleeing are highly vulnerable, including the elderly, women, children, and individuals with medical conditions.
“A large number of people also left today, almost 11,000 have fled so far,” said Mohammad Ali, Operations Director at the White Helmets in Aleppo. “There’s a large percentage of them with difficult medical issues, elderly people, women, and children.”
Both sides have reported civilian casualties. Kurdish forces claim at least 12 civilians were killed in Kurdish-majority areas, while government officials report nine deaths in surrounding districts, with dozens more injured.
The surge in violence comes amid stalled negotiations between Damascus and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), despite a deal earlier this year to integrate SDF units into the Syrian army by the end of 2025.
The intensifying conflict underscores the growing humanitarian toll in Aleppo, as displaced families face uncertain conditions while fleeing active combat zones.
