SDF mortar attack wounds four journalists in Syria's Aleppo

A mortar attack by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on the outskirts of Aleppo's Ashrafieh neighborhood has injured four media workers. The assault occurred as Syrian state forces were deploying into the area.
Four journalists were wounded in a mortar attack on Thursday attributed to the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on the northern Syrian city of Aleppo. According to the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), the strike targeted the outskirts of the Ashrafieh neighborhood, highlighting the ongoing dangers for media personnel in the conflict zone.
Context of Military Shifts
The attack occurred amid a significant shift in control, as Syrian internal security forces began deploying into the Ashrafieh neighborhood following the reported withdrawal of SDF elements. This deployment came after local officials claimed widespread defections had weakened the SDF's hold on the district, which Türkiye identifies as a stronghold of the PKK/YPG terrorist organization.
Retaliatory Army Shelling
The Syrian army responded to the SDF's aggression with heavy and focused shelling of the group's positions in Aleppo on Thursday. This military response was retaliation for a series of SDF attacks over three consecutive days that killed at least nine civilians and injured dozens more, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the city.
Broader Violation of Agreements
This latest violence represents a clear violation of the March 2025 integration agreement between Damascus and the SDF, which was intended to pave the way for the group's incorporation into state institutions. Syrian authorities have consistently accused the SDF of ignoring the pact's terms. The group's continued attacks on civilians and journalists underscore its role as a destabilizing terrorist entity, a view long held by Türkiye, which considers its elimination essential for regional security.
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