Masoud Barzani Warns of 'Ethnic Cleansing Against Kurds in Aleppo' as Fighting Escalates

Peregraf - KDP President Masoud Barzani has warned of a "serious threat" of ethnic cleansing against Kurdish civilians in Aleppo, as clashes intensify between Syrian pro-government forces and Kurdish security units in the city’s predominantly Kurdish neighborhoods.

In a statement released on January 7, 2026, Barzani described the deteriorating security situation in Aleppo as "a cause for great concern," emphasizing that Kurdish residents must not be targeted in political or military disputes. "I call upon the Syrian authorities not to transform political conflict into ethnic conflict," Barzani said, warning against the use of pressure, violence, forced displacement, or ethnic cleansing to remove Kurds from their ancestral lands.

Barzani noted that recent political shifts in Syria had initially created an opening for dialogue and a peaceful resolution respecting the legitimate rights of the Kurdish people. He stated that he and other leaders had made extensive efforts to encourage inclusive dialogue; however, he warned that the current wave of violence in Aleppo has placed civilian lives at risk and raised the alarm over potential crimes against humanity. 

The KDP leader also urged Kurdish political parties, specifically the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), to take all necessary measures to halt the hostilities and prevent further bloodshed. He emphasized that political disagreements must not be settled at the expense of civilian lives, warning that ethnic cleansing would carry "dangerous consequences" for the region.

Barzani’s remarks coincide with similar warnings from senior officials of the Kurdish-led Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (DAANES). Elham Ahmed, co-chair of the DAANES Foreign Relations Department, stated that Syrian interim government forces have effectively launched a "war of extermination against the Kurds" following an unprecedented escalation in the northern Aleppo neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsood and Ashrafiyeh.

Ahmed noted that the Syrian Defense Ministry has declared all alleged SDF positions in the area "legitimate military targets," a claim Kurdish authorities categorically deny. She added that the two neighborhoods—home to thousands of civilians, including families previously displaced from Afrin—have been placed under a tight siege. She accused Damascus of violating an April 1 ceasefire agreement and ignoring repeated calls for de-escalation. 

Clashes persist between the Internal Security Forces (Asayish) of SDF and armed groups affiliated with the Syrian government. Reports indicate that at least eight combatants from both sides have been killed, with dozens more injured. Kurdish officials report that indiscriminate shelling has claimed the lives of four civilians and wounded more than 30 others, including women and children.

Syrian state media has also reported civilian casualties, attributing them to shelling by Kurdish forces, and announced the opening of two humanitarian corridors to allow civilians to exit the conflict zones. Meanwhile, the Hawar News Agency reported that Othman Hospital in Ashrafiyeh was rendered out of service after being targeted by shelling.

As the fighting intensifies, hundreds of families have begun fleeing their homes, sparking fears of mass displacement. Observers warn that without urgent international mediation and a sustained ceasefire, Aleppo could face a new humanitarian catastrophe, deepening ethnic tensions and further destabilizing northern Syria.