Scenes of heavy smoke and active shelling unfolded across northern Aleppo as Syrian army units began bombarding Kurdish-majority neighborhoods following the expiration of a civilian evacuation deadline. The escalation marks a sharp intensification in clashes between Syrian government forces and Kurdish-led armed groups operating in the city.

Syrian troops were seen deploying across key areas as artillery fire and explosions echoed through Sheikh Maqsoud and surrounding districts. Plumes of smoke rose above residential zones as shelling commenced, signaling the start of a broader military operation after warnings for civilians to leave the targeted areas had elapsed.

The Syrian government and Kurdish-led forces have traded blame over who initiated the latest round of deadly clashes, which erupted earlier in the week. Both sides accuse the other of violating ceasefire understandings and provoking the confrontation, further complicating efforts to contain the fighting.

The violence comes against the backdrop of a stalled political agreement reached in March that aimed to merge the Kurds’ semi-autonomous civil administration and military structures into Syria’s new Islamist-led government framework. That deal has so far failed to materialize, leaving unresolved tensions over control, authority, and security arrangements in Kurdish-held areas.

As bombardment continues, Aleppo once again finds itself at the center of Syria’s prolonged conflict, with civilians caught between rival forces and political negotiations giving way to military action. Observers warn that unless channels for de-escalation are restored, the fighting risks spreading beyond the current frontlines and further destabilizing northern Syria.