Fighting between Syrian government forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) has continued for a third day in Aleppo, a city that has long been home to a large Armenian community.
According to the latest available information from the Syrian Armenian newspaper Kantsasar, no casualties or injuries have been reported among Armenians in Aleppo, although Armenian residential buildings in the densely-Armenian-populated districts of Sheikh Taha and the Villas suffered material damage from explosions early Thursday morning, as clashes intensified in the city.
At the moment, Kantsasar reports that a cautious calm currently prevails in Aleppo, though sporadic gunfire continues to be heard. Grocery stores, bakeries, and medical facilities remain open.
Earlier, government forces called on local residents to move to safe areas as Syrian transitional government forces were attempting to assault Aleppo’s Sheikh Maqsoud district.
No injuries have been reported among the Armenian community, and the damage is limited to property losses. One of the missiles fired Thursday night completely destroyed the apartment of Armenian resident Hratch Keyvanian, according to Arevelk news agency.
Earlier on Thursday, the army gave residents of the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh districts until 1:00 p.m. to evacuate those areas. As clashes intensified at the hour announced by the Syrian army, local reports said a curfew was declared for Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh, while gunfire and explosions continued across the city. Other reports said the Syrian Army announced a curfew in the neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud, Ashrafieh, and Bani Zeid, effective from 1:30 p.m. on January 8 until further notice.
No injuries have been reported among the Armenian community, and the damage is limited to property losses. One of the missiles fired Thursday night completely destroyed the apartment of Armenian resident Hratch Keyvanian, according to Arevelk news agency.
Keyvanian said that, although there were no casualties, the explosion awoke his family at 3:45 a.m., amid dust and the noise of the collapsing building. He lives on the first floor in the Villas district, and nearby buildings also sustained damage.
“Our situation is very bad,” Keyvanian said, describing the conflict as a real war with no end in sight.
Stressing that the situation remains tense, former Syrian parliament member Maria Kaprielian told Azatutyun: “The Armenian community has announced that the basement hall of St. Gregory the Illuminator Church is ready to receive our compatriots. Anyone who feels unsafe can apply and find shelter there. The clinic is open to address medical needs.”
A clergyman of the Armenian church in Aleppo also told NEWS.am that the situation in the city remains unstable and that the Syrian government has repeatedly urged residents of Kurdish-controlled areas to leave as it prepares to strike those positions. He said that instructions and calls to the Armenian community are being coordinated by the Armenian church prelacy, and that while many residents are staying in their homes due to the curfew, the Church has urged Armenians whose homes are close to Kurdish areas to come and find shelter in the church until the situation stabilizes.
According to the clergyman, an emergency assistance headquarters and a sickbay have also been opened to respond quickly to medical needs, especially involving children. He said that Armenian homes close to the border line of the fighting have largely been emptied, with many Armenians leaving those areas and receiving shelter through the Church.
He added that, while no Armenian casualties or injuries have been reported, only material damage, many people are exhausted by the war and fearful of what may come next. He said that many Armenians have relocated to Armenia, including to Yerevan on recent flights, though travel disruptions have affected departures and at least one flight was reportedly delayed.
Amid the clashes in Aleppo, the Armenian Consulate General announced on Wednesday that it will continue its operations.
The clashes that began on January 6 have so far resulted in at least five deaths and 33 injuries in Aleppo, Syria’s Health Ministry said Thursday. Two days of deadly clashes have closed schools, government offices and an airport.
Separately, the BBC reported that at least 12 people have been killed during two days of intense clashes in Aleppo, and that tens of thousands of civilians have fled the Kurdish-majority neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh. The report said the Syrian army shelled the districts after designating them “closed military areas,” while the government said the operation was a response to attacks by armed groups and was aimed at preserving security. The Kurdish-led SDF, which insists it has no military presence in Aleppo, called the operation a “criminal attempt” to forcibly displace residents.
