News from the Orient - January 9, 2026

On the night of 6–7 January, the city of Aleppo in Syria was once again the scene of deadly clashes. Fighting broke out between the Syrian Democratic Forces, which are predominantly Kurdish, and Syrian government forces.

The toll: at least nine people killed, making it one of the most violent episodes in several months. At the time this video was produced, on Wednesday afternoon, 7 January, fighting was still ongoing.

→ Watch the video

These outbreaks of violence come as negotiations remain at a standstill. An agreement signed last March was meant to allow for the integration of Kurdish forces into the Syrian army by the end of 2025. But even this Sunday, talks once again failed to yield any results.

Currently:

• All flights to Aleppo are suspended

• Schools and government offices are closed

• Residents living near the front line are being evacuated

One year after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, the unity of the country remains a major challenge. Last June, an attack on the Mar Elias Church in Damascus left 25 people dead.

On 31 December in Aleppo, a suicide attack targeting the Greek Orthodox Church of Bab al-Faraj was prevented thanks to the intervention of a police officer, who saved many lives but lost his own.