Mazloum Abdi, commander-in-chief of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), on Thursday strongly condemned the escalating military operations in Aleppo, warning that the use of heavy weapons and “war rhetoric” to impose unilateral solutions risks serious human rights violations.

In a statement posted on the social media platform X, Abdi said previous reliance on combat tactics in Syria had resulted in massacres amounting to war crimes, citing incidents along the Syrian coast and in Suwayda. He warned that the deployment of tanks and artillery in residential neighborhoods of Aleppo, the shelling of unarmed civilians, and their forced displacement pose a grave threat to civilian lives.

Abdi specifically cautioned against attempts to storm Kurdish neighborhoods in Aleppo—particularly Sheikh Maqsud and Ashrafiyeh—while negotiations are ongoing. Such actions, he said, could undermine prospects for dialogue and lead to “dangerous demographic changes,” placing civilians at risk of mass atrocities.

Reaffirming the SDF’s support for residents of the affected areas, Abdi said his forces have been in contact with relevant parties for several days in an effort to halt the attacks. He expressed solidarity with the people of Sheikh Maqsud and Ashrafiyeh and called for an immediate end to the violence. He also offered condolences to the families of those killed and wished a speedy recovery to the wounded.

Abdi’s remarks come amid heightened military tensions in northern Aleppo. Earlier on Thursday, the SDF’s internal security forces, known as Asayish, said they had repelled a large-scale ground and air assault launched by Damascus government factions against Sheikh Maqsud and Ashrafiyeh.

According to Asayish, the attack followed three consecutive days of intense shelling using tanks and BM-21 Grad missiles and involved more than 60 tanks and armored vehicles, thousands of fighters, and suicide drones. The forces reported heavy clashes on the Ashrafiyeh front, claiming the destruction of one tank and five military vehicles, the downing of seven suicide drones, and dozens of casualties among the attackers, who were ultimately forced to retreat.

Asayish described the assault as lacking legal or military justification and held the Syrian government responsible for the escalation and its impact on civilians. The forces said they remain on high alert to prevent further attempts to seize populated areas by force.

Public anger over the attacks has also spread beyond Syria. On Thursday, a mass demonstration was held in Diyarbakir, where protesters condemned the actions of Damascus government factions against the Kurdish neighborhoods in Aleppo.