Aleppo Residents Return Home as Fighting Subsides in Syria

Residents of Aleppo can finally breathe easier after five days of fighting came to an end, with dozens of armed fighters laying down their weapons and boarding buses out of the contested neighborhoods.

Syria's government announced Saturday that it had restored control over the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh districts, ending clashes that had displaced nearly 180,000 people since Tuesday. The fighting marked the worst violence since the country's leadership transition in late 2024.

"Compared with what we have seen over the last three days, it is quiet in Aleppo," reported journalists on the ground. The city, Syria's commercial and industrial heart, is now conducting sweeps to clear unexploded ordnance before residents can safely return.

The violence erupted after a March 2025 agreement to integrate Kurdish fighters into national institutions stalled over concerns about security guarantees and political representation. When the year-end deadline passed without implementation, tensions boiled over into armed confrontation.

International mediators quickly mobilized to prevent further escalation. Tom Barrack, the US special envoy for Syria, met with President Ahmed al-Sharaa on Saturday to push both sides back to the negotiating table.

The United States offered to facilitate talks between Damascus and Kurdish leadership, drawing on its decade-long relationship with Kurdish forces. Secretary of State Marco Rubio's team pledged support to advance the stalled integration process.

The Bright Side

Despite the setback, the swift end to hostilities shows that diplomatic channels remain open. Both sides have international backers encouraging dialogue rather than prolonged conflict.

President al-Sharaa has consistently pledged to unite Syria's diverse regions and groups after years of fragmentation. The challenge of integrating semi-autonomous areas peacefully remains central to that vision.

The rapid ceasefire and ongoing mediation efforts suggest that leaders on all sides recognize the cost of continued fighting. For ordinary Syrians in Aleppo, the return of calm offers hope that political solutions can still prevail.

Authorities are now working to ensure safe conditions for the 180,000 displaced residents to return home. The focus has shifted from military operations to clearing dangers and rebuilding trust through renewed negotiations.

With international support and local commitment to dialogue, Aleppo has a chance to avoid future violence and move toward lasting integration.