January 14, 2026
Thousands of people demonstrated in Qamishli, a northeast Syrian city, against the expulsion of Kurdish fighters from Aleppo. The protest comes days after clashes between the army and Kurdish forces, following which Syria’s defence ministry asked the Kurdish forces to leave the area. The defence ministry has declared the eastern parts of Aleppo a ‘closed military zone’. President Ahmed al-Sharaa aims to unify the country under one leadership but has faced resistance from Kurdish authorities. Protestors have shown concern that the conflict could worsen and result in further violence.