Armenian community in Aleppo reports calm after overnight clashes

(Horizon Weekly) – The Armenian community of Aleppo emerged unharmed following a night of armed clashes in the Syrian city on December 22, as fighting between Kurdish-led forces and government troops briefly disrupted daily life before subsiding.

Maria Gabrielian, spokesperson for the Armenian Prelacy of Aleppo and a former member of the Syrian Parliament, confirmed that no Armenian casualties were recorded despite the proximity of the fighting to Armenian populated districts. Speaking to Armenpress, Gabrielian said the clashes erupted around midday and continued into the late evening hours, creating widespread concern among residents.

According to Gabrielian, the situation stabilized after midnight, with calm returning across the city. Shops reopened the following morning and normal activity gradually resumed, easing fears within the local Armenian community.

“In spite of the tensions, there are no victims among Armenians,” Gabrielian stated, noting that Kurdish neighborhoods affected by the clashes are located very close to Armenian areas, heightening initial concerns for community safety.

In response to the unrest, Aleppo’s governor ordered the closure of schools and government offices as a precautionary measure.

The clashes involved Syrian government forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, who have maintained an armed presence in and around Aleppo. A ceasefire was reportedly reached following the violence. International media reports indicated that the fighting spilled into urban areas, with civilian casualties reported elsewhere in the city, including the deaths of a woman and her child and injuries to several others.

Armenian community institutions in Aleppo continued to monitor developments closely, emphasizing vigilance while reassuring residents that conditions had returned to stability. Aleppo remains home to one of the oldest Armenian communities in the Middle East, which has endured years of conflict while striving to preserve communal life amid ongoing instability in Syria.

Photograph: Frederic Soltan/Sygma/Corbis