The pace of violence is escalating dangerously on two distant fronts in Syria. Suwayda Governorate in the south and the city of Aleppo in the north are witnessing intense bombardment and violent attacks that have resulted in civilian casualties and created a state of panic and displacement.
In Suwayda: Systematic Violations and Targeting of Civilians
The Druze National Guard confirmed two new aggressions on the evening of Monday, December 22, 2025:
· From Al-Mansoura to Ateel: At 7:15 PM, Transitional Authority forces stationed in the town of Al-Mansoura launched several mortar shells targeting the town of Ateel. These shells landed dangerously close to civilian homes, posing a direct threat to civilian lives.
· From Al-Mazraa to Al-Majdal: Forces in the town of Al-Mazraa targeted the town of Al-Majdal with intermittent heavy machine gun fire (23mm caliber), in a blatant and persistent breach of the standing truce.
These simultaneous aggressions are part of a systematic escalation. The direct shelling of Ateel resulted in the martyrdom of the young man Hamada Al-Khatib (Hamad Walid Al-Khatib, 22 years old) and the young man Qays Al-Zarouni from his wounds. Local sources have announced the names of the wounded in Ateel:
1. Jawad Adnan Murshid
2. Anas Rashid
3. Ra’ed Rashid
4. Firas Al-Shahf
In Aleppo: Siege and Comprehensive Attacks on Kurdish Neighborhoods
The Kurdish neighborhoods of Aleppo, especially the Sheikh Maqsoud and Al-Ashrafiya districts, are facing a military campaign and a suffocating siege:
1. Siege and Isolation: Kurdish media reported that the so-called “Joulani government” has imposed a complete siege on the two neighborhoods, preventing the entry and exit of civilians as well as the entry of food supplies, threatening a humanitarian crisis.
2. Ground and Rocket Attacks: “Joulani” (Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham) militias attempted to storm the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood using tanks and were confronted by the Internal Security Forces “Asayish”. Mortar shells, rockets, and tank fire hit the mentioned neighborhoods.
3. Tribal Incitement: Calls for jihad and a general mobilization against the Syrian Democratic Forces “SDF” were issued by tribes stationed in Tel Rifaat in northern rural Aleppo.
Local Demands and Accountability
In response to these aggressions, the Council of Kurdish Neighborhoods in Aleppo issued a statement:
– It called on the “Syrian government” to hold accountable the rogue factions operating under the umbrella of the Ministry of Defense for yesterday’s attacks.
– It confirmed that the attacks involved the use of all types of heavy and medium weapons, including tanks and rocket launchers.
– It stressed full commitment to the agreements concluded with the government in Damascus.
Painful Toll and Civilian Displacement
The attacks in Aleppo resulted in the martyrdom of a woman (57 years old) and the injury of at least 17 civilians. The list of civilian casualties in Aleppo includes the following names:
1. Hanan Abdul Hamid Ismail (20 years old)
2. Muhammad Abdul Hamid (19 years old)
3. Abdul Hamid Ismail (48 years old)
4. Zakaria Khalifa (53 years old)
5. Abdu Aswad (40 years old)
6. Mahmoud Nidal Ibrahim (18 years old)
7. Aydel Ali (9 years old)
8. Dijla Othman (34 years old)
9. Dogan Alu (18 years old)
10. Abdul Rahman Horo (18 years old)
11. Jamil Akkash (22 years old)
12. Mahmoud Aswad (20 years old)
13. Mirkan Bakr (22 years old)
14. Arif Bilal (20 years old)
15. Royar Habash (13 years old)
University dormitory students in the city were also evacuated to their home provinces.
Attempts to Suppress News
In a notable development, the “Joulani Ministry of Defense” issued a circular requesting the cessation of filming their movements in Aleppo “under penalty of responsibility,” in an attempt to prevent the documentation of violations.
These developments represent a dangerous escalation that threatens to collapse any calm and necessitate urgent intervention to stop the bloodshed and protect the besieged civilians.