Thousands of residents have been forced to flee their homes in Aleppo, north-western Syria, as fighting escalates between the Syrian army and Kurdish forces, once again placing civilians at the centre of the country’s protracted conflict.
Nearly 140,000 people have now been displaced across Aleppo province, according to local social affairs authorities. Those forced to flee include women, children and the elderly, many of whom have urgent medical needs.
At least 22 people have been killed in the clashes. For Christian communities in Aleppo, the escalation has brought particular fear and hardship.
The Church of St George in Aleppo’s Suleimaniyeh District [Image credit: Mr85HelaL / Wikipedia]
“There are two neighbourhoods in Aleppo – Hay al-Ashrafiyya and Hay al-Sheikh Maqsoud – where some believers from Kurdish backgrounds live,” a Christian in Aleppo reported to Barnabas Aid.
“These areas and local churches have come under attack,” he continued.
“Life is extremely difficult. There is no bread or petrol, and the city is almost paralysed. The deafening sound of gunfire and the shaking of buildings make daily life terrifying.”
Renewed violence and unresolved tensions
Aleppo, long a fault line in the war, has seen renewed violence following recent political shifts that have reignited unresolved tensions over security control, governance and military integration in northern Syria.
“The church is on the front lines once again,” said Samya, a young Christian woman.
“Some Kurdish believers have taken refuge in the church, which is doing its best to provide food and blankets,” she continued. “Meanwhile, some Christian families are fleeing to Afrin for safety.
“We pray the Lord will protect us.”
A church service in Aleppo on Good Friday 2025 [Image credit: Chadoua Jbeli/X]
“The situation highlights the fragility of post-Assad power arrangements and the dangers of unresolved integration agreements,” said a Barnabas Aid researcher and Middle East expert.
“For Christian minorities, especially believers from Kurdish backgrounds, the violence compounds existing vulnerabilities, accelerating displacement and weakening already fragile church-based support networks,” she added.
“Without sustained mediation and humanitarian access, the crisis risks deepening sectarian mistrust and fuelling wider regional instability.”
Internal tensions and international concerns
The provincial government of Aleppo had set a deadline for the afternoon of 8 January for people in Kurdish-majority areas to evacuate using designated corridors, while the military issued maps indicating no-go zones and areas targeted for operations.
Shelling, drone strikes and tank movements intensified in neighbourhoods including Sheikh Maqsoud, Achrafieh and Bani Zaid, forcing families to leave with little more than essential belongings.
The clashes began on 6 January, and follow the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces’ (SDF) continued resistance to full integration into the Syrian army after the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad in late 2024.
Saadallah al-Jabiri square, Aleppo, after bombing in October 2012. Aleppo was the scene of terrible fighting and destruction during the Syrian civil war [Image credit: Zyzzzzzy/Flickr]
Assad was replaced by Ahmad al-Sharaa, previously known by his Islamist nom de guerre Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, leader of the militant group Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which was formerly affiliated with Al Qaeda.
The SDF, which controls much of north-eastern Syria, has been a key partner in the global fight against Islamic State (IS, ISIS, ISIL, Daesh), which ten years ago still claimed much of northern Syria as part of its so-called caliphate.
A March 2025 agreement envisaged the full integration of the SDF with the Syrian army by the end of the year, but progress has been slow with both sides accusing each other of stalling.
International actors, including the United States and the United Nations, have urged restraint and renewed dialogue to prevent further civilian harm.
Concerns also remain over potential Turkish military involvement, as Ankara considers Kurdish forces linked to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), including the SDF, to be terrorist organisations.
How you can pray
Please pray for the people of Aleppo, especially in Hay al-Ashrafiyya and Hay al-Sheikh Maqsoud, who are facing ongoing violence, displacement and severe shortages of bread, food and fuel. Pray for the safety, strength and encouragement of believers and churches offering shelter, and for wisdom and protection for church leaders caring for displaced families. Pray also for peace, restraint among all armed actors, and meaningful dialogue that prioritises civilian life. Ask God to comfort all who are fearful, displaced or grieving, for “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1).
