SDF, Syrian Forces exchange fire east of Aleppo
Shafaq News– Aleppo
Limited clashes and mutual shelling erupted between Syrian government forces and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the Deir Hafir area, east of Aleppo, Shafaq News correspondent reported on Monday.
Government forces fired rocket launchers at SDF positions, while medium-caliber gunfire was exchanged along the contact lines between the two sides.
In a statement, SDF affirmed its "full and legitimate right to defend both our fighters and our people", citing the "ongoing indiscriminate shelling currently targeting the city of Deir Hafir by the Al-Amshat and Al-Hamzat factions."
SDF clarifies that a review of events showed the incident cited by Syria’s Defense Ministry in Deir Hafir was a traffic accident, not a drone attack by SDF as claimed.
Update – Our forces affirm their full and legitimate right to defend both our fighters and our people amid the ongoing indiscriminate shelling currently targeting the city of Deir Hafer by the “Al-Amshat” and “Al-Hamzat” factions, affiliated with the Damascus government and…
— Syrian Democratic Forces (@SDF_Syria) January 5, 2026
Syrian state television, citing a military source, reported that the army struck drone launch sites belonging to the SDF in the vicinity of Deir Hafir after identifying their locations.
The source added that SDF drone attacks resulted in more than six injuries among civilians and members of the military police.
Syria’s Defense Ministry accused the SDF of launching a drone attack on a military checkpoint near Syrian army deployment points in Deir Hafir.
In its statement, the ministry described the incident as part of an ongoing escalation against army positions in several parts of the country, vowing that “the Syrian Arab Army would respond “in an appropriate manner.”
The Deir Hafir area has witnessed intermittent tensions between Syrian government forces and the SDF in recent periods.
Earlier, a source told Shafaq News that SDF and officials from the Syrian government failed to reach an accord on implementing the March 10 agreement during their latest meeting in Damascus, particularly regarding the integration of SDF forces and state institutions.
