United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres is “alarmed” by reports of deadly clashes in Aleppo, his spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said on Wednesday, calling on all parties to immediately de-escalate and protect civilians.

Speaking to Rudaw, Dujarric responded to a question from journalist Namo Abdullah regarding attacks by Syrian state forces on the Kurdish-majority neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsood and Ashrafiyeh in northern Aleppo, which began on Tuesday. He said the UN is closely monitoring the situation.

“Turning to Syria, particularly developments in the northeast, which Namo raised yesterday, I can tell you that the Secretary-General is alarmed by reports of civilian deaths and injuries following hostilities in Aleppo,” Dujarric said.

He stressed that all parties are obligated under international humanitarian law to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure. “We call on all actors to immediately de-escalate, exercise maximum restraint, and take all measures to prevent further harm to civilians,” he added.

Intense fighting has been ongoing since Tuesday between Syrian state forces and Kurdish internal security forces (Asayish), which control Sheikh Maqsood and Ashrafiyeh. Both sides have accused each other of responsibility for the violence, while reporting casualties, most of them civilians.

The clashes have erupted despite a landmark agreement between the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the interim government in Damascus that includes a nationwide ceasefire. A subsequent agreement signed a month later specifically addressed the status of the two Aleppo neighborhoods.

“We continue to encourage all parties to demonstrate flexibility and goodwill on both the military and political tracks and to promptly resume negotiations in order to fully implement the March 10 agreement,” Dujarric said.

In response to a follow-up question, Dujarric noted that the UN’s concerns extend beyond developments on the ground. “We are concerned not only about what is happening on the ground but also about the rhetoric,” he said, warning that escalating language could further inflame tensions.