ALEPPO – After a period of intense conflict, residents began to make their way back to a disputed neighborhood in Aleppo on Sunday. This northern Syrian city recently witnessed fierce battles between government troops and Kurdish-led forces. First responders have stepped in to aid residents, clear debris, and neutralize landmines.

The hostilities erupted on Tuesday within the primarily Kurdish districts of Sheikh Maqsoud, Achrafieh, and Bani Zaid. The clashes ensued after negotiations between the government and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the leading Kurdish-led military group, stalled over integrating the SDF into the national army. Since the conflict began, security forces have successfully regained control over Achrafieh and Bani Zaid.

This confrontation marks the most severe fighting since former President Bashar Assad’s regime fell to insurgents in December 2024. Over five days, the violence claimed at least 23 lives and forced more than 140,000 people to flee their homes amidst relentless shelling and drone attacks.

Kurdish combatants have retreated from the Sheikh Maqsoud area and moved to northeastern Syria, a region held by the SDF. In a statement, these fighters vowed to continue their struggle, noting that a “partial ceasefire” was in effect to allow for the evacuation of the wounded and civilians.

On Sunday, the neighborhood remained calm.

Journalists, escorted by government security forces, toured the ravaged area, witnessing firsthand the damage inflicted on the Khalid al-Fajer Hospital and a military site previously used by the SDF’s security forces, which had been targeted by government forces.

The SDF statement accused the government of targeting the hospital “dozens of times” before patients were evacuated. Damascus accused the Kurdish-led group of using the hospital and other civilian facilities as military positions.

On one street, Syrian Red Crescent first responders spoke to a resident surrounded by charred cars and badly damaged residential buildings.

Some residents told The Associated Press that SDF forces did not allow their cars through checkpoints to leave.

“We lived a night of horror. I still cannot believe that I am right here standing on my own two feet,” said Ahmad Shaikho. “So far the situation has been calm. There hasn’t been any gunfire.”

Syrian Civil Defense first responders have been disarming improvised mines that they say were left by the Kurdish forces as booby traps.

Residents who fled are not being allowed back into the neighborhood until all the mines are cleared. Some were reminded of the displacement during Syria’s long civil war.

“I want to go back to my home, I beg you,” said Hoda Alnasiri.

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Associated Press journalist Kareem Chehayeb in Beirut contributed to this report.