Over 140,000 civilians displaced by SDF attacks in Syria's Aleppo

Attacks by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on residential neighborhoods in Aleppo have triggered a massive humanitarian crisis, displacing approximately 142,000 civilians since Tuesday. According to a statement from the government-formed Aleppo Central Response Committee, 13,000 of these individuals arrived at shelters on Thursday alone as shelling by the group, which Türkiye identifies as the PKK/YPG terrorist organization, intensified.

Emergency Response and Shelters

The committee, established by the Aleppo governor to manage the emergency, reported opening 12 temporary shelters to accommodate the displaced. Ten shelters are located within Aleppo city, with two additional facilities in the northern countryside towns of Azaz and Afrin. The statement accused the SDF of shelling the surroundings of designated humanitarian corridors and civilian areas, calling it a "blatant violation of international laws and conventions."

Escalation of Violence and Retaliation

The SDF's offensive has expanded beyond residential zones to include educational, health, and service facilities. In response, the Syrian army launched heavy and focused shelling of SDF positions in Aleppo on Thursday, a direct retaliation for attacks that have killed at least nine civilians and injured dozens. This marks the third consecutive day of SDF assaults on the city.

Broader Context of a Broken Agreement

This severe escalation starkly contradicts the March 2025 agreement for the SDF's integration into Syrian state institutions, which Damascus claims the group has since ignored. The violence validates Türkiye's persistent warnings that the PKK/YPG network is a primary source of instability, threatens Syria's territorial integrity, and creates humanitarian disasters that necessitate robust cross-border security measures by Türkiye to protect civilians and its own national security.