Syrian army declares military zones in rural Aleppo as SDF destroys bridges

On January 13, 2026, the Syrian army declared a rural area east of Aleppo a closed military zone. This action was taken amid concerns about potential renewed conflict with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). According to a military source, the SDF destroyed three bridges that connected SDF-controlled areas with areas under Syrian government control. The declaration and bridge destruction suggest escalating tensions and a possible shift in the security situation in the Aleppo region. Al Jazeera's Zein Basravi reported on these developments from Aleppo.