France has issued a statement expressing “deep concern” over the escalating violence in Aleppo’s Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh neighborhoods, calling for an immediate halt to hostilities and the protection of civilians. The appeal came as French President Emmanuel Macron held a phone call with Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa to discuss the crisis and broader bilateral relations.

The French Foreign Ministry condemned all violence targeting civilians and urged “all parties to exercise restraint and halt the fighting without delay.” It emphasized that Paris is closely monitoring the situation in the two Kurdish-majority districts and asserted that civilians “must be protected.”

Furthermore, France reaffirmed its diplomatic efforts, undertaken alongside the United States, to facilitate dialogue between Syria’s transitional authorities and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The statement underscored Paris’s commitment to the full implementation of the March 10 agreement, describing it as vital for Syria’s unification and regional stability.

The French position was outlined shortly after the Syrian presidency announced a detailed telephone conversation between Presidents Al-Sharaa and Macron. Damascus described the call as part of its ongoing diplomatic outreach to strengthen Syria’s international standing.

According to the Syrian readout, President Al-Sharaa expressed appreciation for France’s role in supporting stability and praised French positions backing “national integration, consolidating Syrian sovereignty over all its territories, easing humanitarian suffering, and backing early recovery initiatives.”

On the situation in Aleppo, Al-Sharaa stated that protecting civilians and securing the city’s surroundings is a “top priority” for the Syrian state to ensure the return of normal life. He framed the state’s military and security actions as a “national and sovereign duty,” specifically highlighting the protection of the Kurdish community, which he termed an “inseparable part of the national fabric.”

While both sides presented the call as constructive, their public statements revealed differing focal points. France’s emphasis remained on an immediate ceasefire, civilian protection, and renewed dialogue with Kurdish-led forces. The Syrian narrative centered on state sovereignty, its duty to protect all components—including Kurds—and the legitimacy of its security operations.

President Macron, according to the Syrian account, reaffirmed France’s commitment to Syria’s unity and sovereignty and expressed support for Damascus’s efforts to “entrench stability and uphold the rule of law.”