Syria threatens to bomb Kurdish district in Aleppo as fighters refuse to evacuate
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Syria: Ceasefire Between Government, SDF in Aleppo Breaks Down
Is Damascus engaged in a campaign of ethnic cleansing against Kurds, or protecting civilians from SDF aggression?
Above: A member of Syria's security forces stands guard as residents flee Aleppo's majority-Kurdish neighborhoods on Jan. 7. Image credit: Bakr ALkasem/AFP/Getty Images
The Spin
Government-critical narrative
Armed extremist groups backed by Damascus are executing a systematic campaign of ethnic cleansing against Kurds in Aleppo through deliberate massacres, hospital bombings and forced displacement. These Islamic State group-like tactics mirror previous atrocities against Alawites and Druze, representing organized terror aimed at erasing Syria's minority communities. International intervention must immediately halt these crimes against humanity and establish a decentralized federal system that ensures every member of Syria's diverse society is protected.
Pro-government narrative
Syrian forces deployed to Aleppo to protect civilians after SDF militants shelled residential areas. The government's measured response aims to restore order and prevent violations while pursuing integration talks, but progress has repeatedly stalled because armed groups refuse to disarm. The government has even opened humanitarian corridors and announced the areas it will target — proving that SDF propaganda is false.