Peregraf — The Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) has held Turkey directly responsible for recent attacks on the Kurdish-majority neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud, Ashrafiyeh, and Bani Zaid in Aleppo. In a statement released on Thursday, the Administration accused Ankara of supporting and facilitating armed factions carrying out the assaults, asserting that these actions are intended to destabilize the region and retaliate against forces that played key roles in combating terrorism.
The statement emphasized that Turkey’s policies have directly endangered civilians and violated international norms, as residential areas continue to be shelled and targeted. The Administration expressed deep concern over the impact on the local population, highlighting the resilience of residents who remain under constant threat.
AANES reaffirmed its full support for the Internal Security Forces (Asayish) and all other units defending the neighborhoods, noting their efforts to protect civilians amid escalating violence. It issued an urgent appeal to the Syrian people of all communities, as well as democratic forces worldwide, to stand with the residents and support their steadfastness in the face of ongoing attacks.
The Administration further called on the international community, along with human rights and monitoring organizations, to intervene immediately to halt what it described as “crimes” against civilians. It demanded that those responsible be held accountable under international law and urged a swift end to the shelling and armed assaults targeting populated areas.
“These neighborhoods are under siege, and civilians continue to pay the price for political and military agendas beyond their control,” the statement said. “We urge the world to act decisively to stop these attacks and protect the lives of innocent people.”
The attacks on Sheikh Maqsoud, Ashrafiyeh, and Bani Zaid have included heavy artillery shelling, Grad missiles, and drone strikes. Local sources report that several residential buildings have been damaged and civilians injured, with continuous targeting of homes, hospitals, and marketplaces preventing the safe movement of residents and hindering rescue operations.
Eyewitnesses say that the shelling is often indiscriminate, forcing families to remain indoors for days at a time and causing shortages of food, water, and medical supplies. Internal Security Forces (Asayish) and volunteer rescue teams have worked to evacuate the wounded and provide assistance, but repeated attacks have made access to hospitals extremely dangerous.
Reports indicate that the attacks are part of a broader pattern of violence targeting northern Aleppo’s Kurdish-majority areas, which are home to more than 500,000 residents, including tens of thousands displaced from Afrin. Humanitarian organizations have warned that continued aggression could trigger further displacement, disrupt essential services, and worsen the already dire humanitarian situation in the city.
AANES stressed that while the neighborhoods are largely defended by local forces, the sustained assaults, coupled with Turkey’s backing of armed factions, have created a volatile environment in which civilians remain at constant risk. The Administration reiterated its call for urgent international attention and action to stop the attacks and hold accountable those responsible for targeting civilians.