Violent clashes between forces affiliated with the interim administration in Damascus and the Autonomous Administration’s Internal Security Forces (Asayish) in Syria’s city of Aleppo have also affected air traffic. It was announced that all flights at Aleppo International Airport were suspended for a period of 24 hours.
Officials from the interim administration stated that due to intense clashes and mutual artillery fire that began in Aleppo on the afternoon of Tuesday, 6 January 2026, arrivals and departures at the airport were temporarily halted.
Clashes concentrated in Aleppo’s northern neighbourhoods
The decision to close the airport was taken following violent clashes between armed groups affiliated with the Damascus administration and Asayish forces linked to the Autonomous Administration in several neighbourhoods in northern Aleppo. The parties are accusing each other of initiating the clashes and targeting civilian residential areas.
Autonomous Administration: “Civilian neighbourhoods were attacked with heavy weapons”
In a statement by the Internal Security Forces (Asayish) affiliated with the Rojava Autonomous Administration, it was alleged that forces loyal to the Damascus administration carried out large-scale attacks with tanks, artillery and Katyusha rockets on three neighbourhoods inhabited by more than 600,000 civilians.
Sources from the Autonomous Administration reported that 3 civilians were killed in the attacks and 26 people were injured, including a 2-year-old child.
Ferhad Shami, Press Officer of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), shared footage said to show the Damascus administration deploying tanks to the area, claiming that government forces were bringing heavy weapons into the city. The Autonomous Administration described the developments as “a dangerous initiative targeting Syria’s territorial integrity”.
Damascus administration: “The SDF escalated the tension”
The Damascus administration, in a written statement, placed responsibility for the clashes on the SDF. The statement claimed that SDF forces carried out artillery attacks on several areas, particularly the government-controlled Meydan neighbourhood.
According to the Damascus administration, 3 civilians were killed and 12 civilians were injured in these attacks.
