ALEPPO – Tensions escalated in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo on Wednesday, as hundreds fled two primarily Kurdish neighborhoods following the military’s decision to open corridors for civilian evacuation. This move came after a deadly outbreak of violence the previous day.

The Syrian military set a deadline until 3 p.m. (1200 GMT) for civilians to evacuate the Sheikh Maqsoud and Achrafieh neighborhoods. Post-deadline, the areas were designated as “closed military zones,” and explosions soon echoed through these districts.

According to the Syrian Civil Defense, approximately 850 residents had exited the neighborhoods by noon (0900 GMT). This followed a day marred by intense clashes and shelling, resulting in the deaths of seven individuals in Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) areas and four in zones controlled by the government. The violence also left many injured.

The Information Ministry in Syria announced plans for a “limited military operation” in Aleppo. This decision responds to ongoing SDF attacks on government-held sections of what was once Syria’s largest commercial hub. These clashes have reportedly claimed the lives of over 20 civilians and 25 soldiers, while injuring more than 150 people over recent months.

In a statement issued Wednesday afternoon, the SDF indicated that government forces had launched an offensive using heavy artillery on the Sheikh Maqsoud and Achrafieh neighborhoods. The Kurdish forces are reportedly mounting a “fierce resistance” to counter the attack and safeguard the local populace.

The latest round of clashes is the deadliest so far between the two sides, and came as efforts to merge the SDF with the national army have shown little progress.

The two predominantly Kurdish neighborhoods have witnessed intermittent clashes in recent months. Previous rounds of fighting ended with truce agreements.

A Kurdish man who left with his wife and four children on Wednesday told The Associated Press that the situation inside the two neighborhoods is harsh, including food and drinking water shortages.

“I am ready to stay in a garden in order to protect my children,” said the man, who didn’t give his name because he was fearful of repercussions. He said that he was originally from the northern region of Afrin that was captured by Turkish troops and Turkey-backed gunmen in 2018.

Adiba Allo said a shell hit her home on Tuesday forcing her to flee with her children. She added that they have received text messages with a telephone number to call in case they have no place to stay.

Since Tuesday evening the situation had been relatively calm only to explode again on Wednesday afternoon.

The SDF has tens of thousands of fighters and is the main force to be absorbed into Syria’s military.

The leadership in Damascus under interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa signed a deal in March with the SDF, which controls much of the northeast, for it to merge with the Syrian army by the end of 2025. There have been disagreements on how it would happen. In April, scores of SDF fighters left Sheikh Maqsoud and Achrafieh as part of the deal.

Officials from the central government and SDF met again on Sunday in Damascus, but government officials said that no tangible progress had been made.

Some of the factions that make up the new Syrian army, formed after the fall of former President Bashar Assad in a rebel offensive in December 2024, were previously Turkey-backed insurgent groups that have a long history of clashing with Kurdish forces.

The SDF for years has been the main U.S. partner in Syria in fighting against the Islamic State group, but Turkey considers the SDF a terrorist organization because of its association with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, which has waged a long-running insurgency in Turkey. A peace process is now underway.

The SDF and Syria’s government have accused each other of seeking to derail the March agreement.