Over the past 59 minutes from 10:16 AM to 11:15 AM UTC on Jan. 9, Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) members linked to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party in Aleppo's Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood refused to leave via buses and insisted on fighting, according to a military source cited by SANA. Local councils called for general mobilization to defend the area. The General Council of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh neighborhoods stated they are determined to remain and defend their areas, rejecting surrender and expressing distrust in handing security to the Damascus government, per a statement shared on X by hawarhebo99 during the window. YPG-backed councils urged people to mobilize and report to Khalid Fajr Hospital for the injured, as translated from Kurdish by azelin on X. Heavy shooting occurred in Sheikh Maqsoud, with SDF firing bullets toward the gondola roundabout, according to a Syria TV correspondent. Ashais opened fire toward a Golani gangs point at the bus entry site, as reported by ALMIHWAR NEWS. A Levant24 conflict map indicated Sheikh Maqsoud as the only remaining SDF-controlled area after other neighborhoods were liberated and secured by government forces. These clashes follow buses entering Sheikh Maqsoud from 9:16 AM to 10:16 AM UTC on Jan. 9 to escort approximately 300 willing SDF fighters out, as confirmed by a Levant24 correspondent in the previous hour. The developments build on a ceasefire reached earlier that morning between Syrian Defense Ministry forces and SDF fighters.
