The Syrian army ordered civilians to evacuate three Aleppo neighborhoods on Thursday amid intense fighting with Kurdish forces that entered its third day. The areas targeted are Sheikh Maqsoud, Ashrafieh, and Bani Zeid. The government opened humanitarian corridors to help civilians leave safely before the 1:30 pm local deadline. After the deadline expired, the Syrian army began shelling Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) positions, who retaliated with fire. This is the fiercest conflict since the Assad regime fell in December 2024. It raises fears of a wider war between the Syrian government and the Kurdish authorities controlling nearly a third of Syria’s territory. About 140,000 civilians have fled since the fighting began on Tuesday, with at least fifteen civilians and one soldier killed. Both sides accuse each other of violating human rights, with claims of civilians used as shields and attacks on hospitals. The SDF denies having fighters in the neighborhoods, calling the defenders local self-defense groups. The clashes come despite a March 2025 deal for the SDF to integrate into the Syrian army by early 2025, which has stalled due to disagreements over autonomy and armament. Tensions remain high, worsened by recent massacres and ongoing mistrust. The US has called for restraint and is attempting to mediate, while Turkey criticizes the SDF and may support Damascus if asked militarily. With protests erupting in Kurdish areas and anger spreading in government zones, the fight in Aleppo threatens to deepen Syria’s conflict further.