Syrian forces drive out Kurdish fighters as US strikes IS targets

Syrian government forces have detained hundreds of Kurdish fighters and civilians following intense clashes in the city of Aleppo, while the United States and its allies carried out large-scale airstrikes against Islamic State targets elsewhere in Syria.

Syria’s interior ministry said 300 Kurds, including members of Kurdish internal security forces, were detained after government troops took control of the Sheikh Maqsoud district, the last Kurdish-held area in Aleppo.

According to The Guardian, an additional 360 Kurdish fighters and about 60 wounded were evacuated by bus to the Kurds’ de facto autonomous region in north-eastern Syria under a ceasefire agreement. The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) confirmed it had agreed to withdraw from Aleppo following days of fighting.

The clashes, among the most serious since the ouster of former president Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, reportedly began after talks to integrate Kurdish forces into Syria’s new government stalled. At least 21 civilians were killed, and Aleppo’s governor said around 155,000 residents fled their homes. Both sides blamed each other for starting the violence.

Separately, US and allied forces said they launched “large-scale” strikes against Islamic State positions on Saturday as part of Operation Hawkeye Strike, in response to a December attack near Palmyra that killed two US soldiers and a civilian interpreter. The Jordanian military said it also participated in the operation under the international coalition against the jihadist group.

The Syrian military later announced it had completed operations in Aleppo, while the SDF said the ceasefire and evacuations were achieved through international mediation.