Syrian Interior Ministry spokesman Nour al-Din al-Baba accused the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces of conducting systematic attacks on residential areas in Aleppo to undermine a March 10 integration agreement, SANA reported on December 22.

The SDF launched mortar shells, rocket launchers and heavy machine guns at multiple Aleppo neighbourhoods and al-Razi Hospital, killing two civilians and injuring 15 others, including civil defence volunteers, al-Baba stated in an interview with Syrian News Channel.

The attacks began after the Syrian Arab Army detected suspicious, aggressive activity from SDF positions and dealt with the threat. The SDF subsequently withdrew elements from joint checkpoints and opened direct fire on internal security forces, injuring two personnel.

Syrian Arab Army and internal security forces responded to sources of fire, targeting the Youth Housing area containing SDF military concentrations, warehouses and operations rooms. The response killed more than 13 SDF members including a prominent leader, al-Baba stated.

Fighting erupted between Syrian government forces and the SDF in Aleppo on December 22 during Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan's visit to Syria but ended that evening after both sides agreed to halt firing, Al Jazeera reported on December 23.

Tensions remain high as a year-end deadline approaches to incorporate the SDF into Syrian armed forces under the March 10 agreement signed between Damascus and SDF military leader Mazloum Abdi. Little progress has been made over 10 months.

The SDF prefers incorporating existing battalions into Syrian armed forces with autonomy, whilst Damascus favours individual fighter integration.

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani stated on December 22 that the SDF "showed no willingness" to integrate into Damascus's central administration.

Reuters reported on December 20 that Damascus expressed openness to the SDF reorganising roughly 50,000 fighters into three main divisions and smaller brigades provided it cedes some command chains and opens territory to other Syrian army units. However, officials stated a deal did not appear imminent.

Al-Baba stated Damascus remains committed to the March 10 agreement and documents repeated violations by the SDF, submitting them to international guarantor parties.