Kurdish and Syrian government forces have been exchanging gunfire in Aleppo, according to media

Violent clashes erupted between Kurdish fighters, including the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), and the government forces in Aleppo on Monday night, according to several media outlets.

The North Press Agency reported that at least 7 people were killed and dozens injured in exchanges of gunfire. Some people in various Aleppo neighborhoods rallied against the government, according to the outlet.

Al Arabiya reported, citing the Syrian Defense Ministry, that the government "was moving as part of its redeployment plan."

"We are committed to our agreement with the [SDF] and have no intention to carry out any military operations," the quote reads.

The SDF claimed that the clashes were a direct result "of provocations by factions of the interim government and their attempts to advance with tanks."

In April, the Syrian government and local council of Aleppo's Kurdish neighborhoods signed an agreement placing the latter under Damascus's authority while preserving a level of autonomy for Kurdish institutions.

Another agreement stipulated that Kurdish civil and military structures would be integrated into the central government by the end of 2025.

Concerns over escalation and fragmentation in Syria have intensified after months of clashes between minority groups and government forces. After the ouster of longtime President Bashar Assad, Islamist factions have reportedly targeted minority communities, including Alawites, Christians, Kurds, and Druze. Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa later reiterated that all groups will be welcomed under central authority and that "all weapons must be under the state's control."

(RT.com)