Kurdish-majority neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsood and Ashrafieh in northern Aleppo were placed under a complete siege by Damascus-affiliated militants on October 6th, 2025, as announced by Hevin Sulaiman, a senior official from the areas, to Rudaw English. The timing of the announcement falls within the reporting window of 4:07 PM to 4:38 PM UTC. Sulaiman stated that all entrances to the neighborhoods have been closed, effectively cutting off access and egress. This development occurs amid ongoing diplomatic efforts in northeast Syria, including meetings between U.S. officials and Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) Commander-in-Chief General Mazloum Abdi, aimed at advancing President Trump's "give Syria a chance" initiative and implementing the March 10 Agreement. Previous reports indicate that U.S. Ambassador to Türkiye John Bass and CENTCOM Commander Admiral Brad Cooper engaged in substantive conversations with General Abdi in Qamishli earlier on October 6th, 2025, focusing on cooperative peace, prosperity, and counter-terrorism. The current siege in Aleppo represents a significant escalation of tensions in the region, impacting civilian movement and access to essential resources.
