Reporter goes inside Aleppo tunnels dug by SDF fighters

In January 2026, Al Jazeera gained access to a network of tunnels in the Sheikh Maqsoud area of Aleppo, Syria. These tunnels were constructed by fighters from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Following the SDF's withdrawal from the area, Syrian government security forces have been searching the tunnel system. Al Jazeera reporter Bernard Smith was granted access to the tunnels and reported on the situation. The purpose of the report was to document the existence and extent of the tunnel network and the subsequent search operation.