Syrian Arab Army forces targeted Syrian Democratic Forces positions near Deir Hafer in eastern Aleppo with artillery shells over the past hour ending at 4:15 PM UTC on January 13, 2026, in response to SDF drone strikes on the vicinity of Hamima village, according to a military source cited by Al-Ikhbariya and reported by QalaatAlMudiq on X. The exchange of strikes occurred amid rising tensions on contact lines with SDF in eastern Aleppo, as noted by Levant_24_ on X during the reporting window from 3:16 PM UTC. The military source stated, "The Syrian Arab Army targets SDF positions in the vicinity of the city of Deir Hafer with artillery shells in response to the latterโs targeting of the vicinity of the village of Hamima with drones." Damascus sent reinforcements to the eastern Aleppo front against SDF during this period, including brand new locally made Grad launchers, according to QalaatAlMudiq on X. These developments follow SDF detonations of the Um Tina bridge east of Deir Hafer and two additional bridges earlier on January 13, as previously reported by QalaatAlMudiq. The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) claimed the latest attack on Kurdish forces in Aleppo was green-lighted by the United States and other powerful states, warning that ongoing attacks on Syriaโs Kurds could sabotage its peace process with Turkey, according to RudawEnglish on X. These events build on Syrian Arab Army engagements with PKK/SDF positions near Tishrin Dam and the return of displaced residents to secured neighborhoods in Aleppo earlier on January 13, as reported in prior updates.
