Aleppo, Syria - Jan 9, 2026 (CCTV - No Access Chinese Mainland/Orient TV/Syria Alshaab TV/Zanoubia TV/Alhurra TV/ANN TV/Al Jazeera/Al-Arabiya TV)
1. Various of parties to conflict exchanging gunfire, shelling; tanks, soldiers on street
2. Various of soldiers walking, tanks on street
3. Aerial shots of buses waiting in line
4. Various of people evacuating
5. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Abdulkarim Lela, director, Aleppo Media Directorate (starting with shot 4/partially overlaid with shots 6-7):
"Humanitarian corridors were opened today to ensure the safe passage of civilians in areas near the front lines to safer areas within Aleppo. The Aleppo Governorate provided a number of buses, ambulances, and temporary shelters for these civilians who are now leaving the areas near the front lines."
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6. Cityscape, smoke rising from distance
7. Soldiers, people walking with luggage
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8. Various of people evacuating
9. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Muhammad Al-Awaid Muhammad, local resident:
"We've been displaced for over fifteen years. Every time we move somewhere, we run, we run and flee. Where are you taking us? What are you trying to make us live? What does this mean? This is unacceptable. We don't know where to live, where to stay, where to go."
10. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Idris Haj Abdo, local resident (partially overlaid with shot 11):
" What is the sin of these children? My son, your son, their son, what is their sin?"
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11. People evacuating
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12. Tanks, vehicles on street, gunfire

The Syrian interim government accused the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) of violating a withdrawal agreement on Friday, prompting the Syrian army to launch a security operation in Aleppo's Sheikh Maksoud district.

Renewed clashes with shelling and gunfire erupted in parts of Aleppo on Friday evening, following unsuccessful efforts by Syrian authorities to enforce the SDF's withdrawal from the city. Military tanks were stationed at street corners, and heavy gunfire lit up the night sky as fighting intensified.

The Syrian army is currently engaged in clashes with Kurdish groups in Sheikh Maksoud, one of only two remaining Kurdish-controlled neighborhoods in Aleppo, where fighters have refused to withdraw. Kurdish forces have maintained control over these districts since the early stages of the Syrian conflict that began in 2011.

Earlier on Friday, the Syrian government announced a ceasefire and demanded a full withdrawal, even providing buses for fighters to leave the area. However, the vehicles returned empty after Kurdish councils rejected the agreement and vowed to defend their neighborhoods.

As hostilities escalated, local authorities attempted to establish humanitarian corridors for civilians trapped near the front lines.

"Humanitarian corridors were opened today to ensure the safe passage of civilians in areas near the front lines to safer areas within Aleppo. The Aleppo Governorate provided a number of buses, ambulances, and temporary shelters for these civilians who are now leaving the areas near the front lines," said Abdulkarim Lela, director of Aleppo Media Directorate.

Hundreds of residents fled on foot, with many of them angry, exhausted, and devastated after years of repeated displacement.

"We've been displaced for over fifteen years. Every time we move somewhere, we run, we run and flee. Where are you taking us? What are you trying to make us live? What does this mean? This is unacceptable. We don't know where to live, where to stay, where to go," said Muhammad Al-Awaid Muhammad, a resident.

"What is the sin of these children? My son, your son, their son, what is their sin?" said Idris Haj Abdo, father of a young child.