Tensions Flare in Aleppo: Deadly Clashes Amid Integration Stalemate

Deadly clashes erupted in Aleppo between government forces and the Kurdish-led SDF, resulting in four deaths. Efforts to integrate the SDF with Syria's army have stalled, leading to blame from both sides. Syria suspends flights and closes public institutions, while locals fear possible escalation.

In the northern Syrian city of Aleppo, fighting erupted on Tuesday, claiming the lives of at least four individuals and injuring several others. The violence, reported by state media, saw Syrian government forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) blaming each other for the recent clashes.

This latest burst of conflict highlights the underlying tension as Syrian and SDF officials struggle to merge forces to address one of Syria's profound fractures. With the U.S.-backed SDF reluctant to relinquish its hard-earned autonomy from 14 years of warfare, efforts to assimilate them into the government forces remain stalled, fueling potential violence and drawing threats of Turkish intervention.

The dead include three civilians and a soldier, according to the state news agency SANA. Escalation of hostilities, marked by artillery shelling and territorial confrontations, has prompted precautionary measures such as flight suspensions at Aleppo's airport and halting public activities. Meanwhile, local officials are in dialogue with the central government to quell the unrest.

(With inputs from agencies.)