The main security trend in Aleppo governorate during the reference period was the rollback of remaining SDF-held positions and the expansion of transitional-government authority463 in Aleppo City464 and in the SDF-held belt east of Aleppo toward Deir Hafer and Maskana.465 Clashes resumed near Tishreen Dam and in Aleppo City in October 2025,466 before escalating sharply in early January 2026.467 By 10 January 2026, government forces had taken full control of Aleppo City following fighting in the predominantly Kurdish neighbourhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh.468 During the January battles, allegations of abuses by both parties were reported,469 including attacks on civilians, sniper fire,470 degrading treatment, arbitrary deprivation of liberty,471 desecration of bodies, the use of unguided munitions in civilian areas, and extrajudicial executions.472 After 10 January, hostilities decreased markedly, although sporadic drone attacks in Aleppo and its surroundings reportedly continued.473
In Manbij district, the main shift concerned its eastern part, around the towns of Deir Hafer and Maskana.474 Al Jazeera reported that the government opened evacuation corridors to allow civilians to leave the Deir Hafer and Maskana area before the offensive.475 As part of efforts to take control of Ain al-Arab, the city and its surrounding countryside came under prolonged siege or encirclement and experienced severe humanitarian pressure.476
Compared to the period straight after the fall of Bashar al-Assad, the configuration of actors has changed: while late 2024 and early 2025 had been marked by heavy fighting between Türkiye/SNA and the SDF, particularly around Tishreen Dam,477 including documented civilian casualties,478 the reference period was characterised primarily by confrontations involving government forces and the SDF.479 Incidents involving unidentified armed actors continued to be reported in the governorate,480 targeting both civilians481 and members of the new security apparatus.482 ISIL attacks were likewise reported against security personnel.483
- 463
ISW and CTP, Assessed Control of Terrain in Syria November 10, 2025 at 2:00 PM ET [Map], 10 November 2025, url; ISW and CTP, Assessed Control of Terrain in Syria, February 16, 2026 at 2:00 PM ET [Map], 16 February 2026, url; Aftandilian, G., The Shrinking Space for Kurdish Autonomy in Syria, Arab Center Washington DC, 26 February 2026, url
- 464
MEI, Syria is stabilizing, but US help remains vital, 13 February 2026, url
- 465
Al Jazeera, Syrian army takes control of east Aleppo towns as Kurdish fighters withdraw, 17 January 2026, url
- 466
UN Human Rights Council, Report of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic, A/HRC/61/62, 12 March 2026, url, Annex I, pp. 40-41; Etana Syria, Brief: Ceasefire pauses SDF-Damascus fighting, 14 October 2025, url
- 467
EUAA analysis based on ACLED data. ACLED, Data Export Tool, Syria, data covering 9 December 2024 to 31 May 2026, as of 9 June 2026, url
- 468
MEI, How Damascus and the SDF came to blows in Aleppo — and what might come next, 13 January 2026, url
- 469
MEI, Integration or conflict in northeastern Syria? Ten key points to consider, 29 January 2026, url
- 470
Arab Weekly (The), Syria government, Kurdish forces clash in Aleppo as Ankara calls on SDF to disarm, 7 January 2026, url
- 471
STJ, Syria: Arrests and Abuse of Kurds During Aleppo Escalation (January 2026), April 2026, url, p. 3
- 472
MEI, Integration or conflict in northeastern Syria? Ten key points to consider, 29 January 2026, url; OHCHR, UN Syria Commission of Inquiry welcomes new ceasefire and calls for continuing efforts to protect civilians and prevent violations in northeast Syria, 30 January 2026, url
- 473
UNOCHA, Syrian Arab Republic: Flash Update No. 4 - Clashes in Aleppo (as of 12 January 2026), 12 January 2026, url, p. 2
- 474
Al Jazeera, Syrian army takes control of east Aleppo towns as Kurdish fighters withdraw, 17 January 2026, url
- 475
Al Jazeera, Syrian army tells civilians to evacuate new front with SDF east of Aleppo, 15 January 2026, url
- 476
DW, Syria: Life-saving aid reaches Kurdish city of Kobane, 25 January 2026, url; ANHA, Health situation deteriorated in Kobani due to siege, 11 March 2026, url
- 477
ISW and CTP, Iran Update, March 21, 2025, 21 March 2025, url, p. 8
- 478
STJ, War Crimes: Turkish/SNA Attacks on Tishrin Dam Killed Civilians, Endangered the Vital Resource, 18 May 2025, url, p. 3
- 479
EUAA analysis based on ACLED data. ACLED, Data Export Tool, Syria, data covering 9 December 2024 to 31 May 2026, as of 9 June 2026, url
- 480
EUAA analysis based on ACLED data. ACLED, Data Export Tool, Syria, data covering 9 December 2024 to 31 May 2026, as of 9 June 2026, url
- 481
SOHR, New murder crime | Civilian shot dead in Aleppo city, 7 October 2025, url; SOHR, With over ten bullets | Civilian assassinated in his office in Aleppo city, 17 December 2025, url; SOHR, Wearing military uniforms | Unidentified gunmen open fire on taxi in Afrin countryside, killing three, 29 January 2026, url; SOHR, Security chaos | One Shiite killed and others injured in attack on taxi in Aleppo, 16 March 2026, url
- 482
SOHR, Assassination | Defence Ministry member shot dead in Aleppo, 27 December 2025, url; SOHR, Security chaos | Member of General Security Service assassinated in Akhtarin, 14 January 2026, url; SOHR, New assassination | Member of Ministry of Interior shot dead on Aleppo-Al-Bab highway, 26 February 2026, url; NPA, Two government soldiers killed in attack in Aleppo countryside, 6 March 2026, url
- 483
Enab Baladi, Islamic State claims attack targeting road security personnel in Idlib, 15 December 2025, url; Enab Baladi, Islamic State claims attack in Aleppo as assaults escalate, 7 March 2026, url; Enab Baladi, Islamic State Claims Two Attacks in Syria in Two Days, 18 April 2026, url