Syrian Defense Ministry troops launched an attack on the defensive belt of Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood in Aleppo after hardline Asayish fighters refused another attempt to negotiate surrender of weapons and evacuation, over the past 29 minutes through 7:46 PM UTC on Jan. 9, according to QalaatAlMudiq on X. The military command declared Sheikh Maqsoud a military zone and imposed a curfew starting at 6:30 PM UTC, urging remaining residents to avoid SDF fighter locations and shelter in basements. The Syrian Civil Defense reported that about 159 thousand people have been displaced from Aleppo neighborhoods so far, as stated by AlArabiya_Breaking on X. Al-Akhbariya correspondent reported SDF targeting the vicinity of Shihan roundabout in Aleppo with heavy weapons, with explosions echoing in the area, according to an X post during this period. Kurdish Front News stated the Syrian Democratic Forces launched an intense bombing campaign with rocket launchers and artillery on Kuwaires Airbase west of Deir Hafir, per a Telegram post. An X post by AbdussamedDgl1 claimed SDF terrorists rigged bombs to a Quran to trap Syrian Army members attempting to lift it. These developments follow violent clashes in Sheikh Maqsoud after earlier failed negotiations, as reported in the prior period through 7:16 PM UTC, with ongoing Syrian Arab Army operations in the area.
