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Christians in Syria’s northern city of Aleppo marked Christmas under heightened security concerns this year as attacks by the PKK/YPG terrorist group targeted civilian neighborhoods, casting a shadow over holiday celebrations.
Residents said celebrations that initially began with greater color and hope were curtailed after attacks by the PKK/YPG on residential areas.
Many Christians chose to limit celebrations to homes and church services instead of public events due to safety concerns.
Emir Haskur, a gift shop owner in Aleppo’s Aziziye district, said preparations for Christmas were disrupted days before the holiday when clashes linked to PKK/YPG attacks began.
He said mortars and rockets hit civilian neighborhoods, causing injuries and damage, which created fear among residents.
Haskur said most planned events were either canceled or moved indoors, adding that even a newly established “Christmas Village” at the Holy Land Monastery, the first such large-scale project in the city, was shut down for security reasons.
Despite the fear, Haskur said residents remained hopeful and wished for unity, security and peace to be restored across the country.
Maria Kashur, a French teacher living in Aleppo, said the attacks dampened Christmas joy, prompting people to stay home or act cautiously.
She expressed hope that future years would bring improved security and stability.
PKK/YPG maintains a presence in Aleppo’s Sheikh Maksoud and Ashrafiyyeh neighborhoods and carried out artillery and mortar attacks on civilian areas in the city center.
Local authorities said two civilians were killed and 13 others injured.
Syria’s Defense Ministry said Syrian forces responded by neutralizing PKK/YPG targets before ordering a halt to operations.
Türkiye’s Ministry of National Defense warned that recent attacks by the U.S.-backed YPG undermine Syria’s unity and territorial integrity, reiterating Ankara’s support for stability in its southern neighbor.
The ministry said the attacks hamper the implementation of an agreement signed between the YPG, the Syrian wing of the PKK, and the new administration in Damascus, calling for adherence to the “one state, one army” principle.
Local authorities reported that four people were killed and nine injured in a YPG attack in northern Aleppo earlier this week, after which the Syrian Defense Ministry said several YPG members were neutralized.
The YPG signed an agreement with Damascus on March 10 to integrate its Syrian members into security forces, a process expected to be completed by the end of 2025.
Damascus has accused the group of failing to fully implement the deal, while YPG officials have said they remain committed to talks.
Speaking in Damascus, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said delays in the integration process obstruct Syria’s unity, warning that patience with the YPG is running out, though Türkiye does not wish to resort to military means.
The Defense Ministry also addressed recent drone incidents near Turkish airspace, saying investigations were ongoing and emphasizing that Türkiye’s airspace remains well-protected through a multi-layered security system.
The ministry further commented on growing military cooperation between Israel, Greece and the Greek Cypriot administration, saying the alliance does not pose a military threat to Türkiye and reiterating Ankara’s commitment to regional stability and dialogue.
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