Armenian Families in Aleppo Trapped as Fighting Escalates Near Residential Areas

The security situation in Aleppo continues to deteriorate as clashes intensify and civilians remain caught between opposing forces. Members of the Armenian community, already reduced in number after years of conflict, are among those most affected due to their proximity to the areas of fighting.

Anna Maria Ohanguzelian told The Armenian Report that she is not currently in Aleppo, but her family remains there and she has been in constant contact with them. According to her, the Armenian community in Aleppo is mainly concentrated in neighborhoods such as Suleimaniya, Aziziya, Villat, and Meedan. Meedan, in particular, is located very close to the active clash zones and has already been affected by the fighting.

Because of the escalation, her family has been forced to take emergency action. Her uncle fled Meedan and moved to the family home in Sulaymaniya after clashes intensified and evacuation orders were issued. At present, movement within the city is extremely limited. Roads are closed, a curfew is in place, and residents are unable to relocate. Until a ceasefire is announced, families remain largely confined to where they are.

Ohanguzelian described the situation as shocking, especially due to the use of heavy weapons in populated areas. She said she’s concerned that the Syrian Democratic Forces, described as a multi-ethnic coalition, are attacking residential districts. She warned that if the fighting continues, areas with Armenian residents could face further danger, noting that Armenian-populated neighborhoods such as Meedan have already been affected. At the same time, she stated that she does not believe Armenians are being deliberately targeted. However, she emphasized that the Armenian population in Aleppo has decreased significantly, leaving a small number of families concentrated in a few neighborhoods alongside other ethnic groups, increasing their vulnerability.

Further insight into the situation was shared by Armenian diasporan Natalie Bahhade, who also spoke to The Armenian Report. She described conditions in Aleppo as chaotic and confusing, with no fully reliable sources of information available to the public. Conflicting reports from the Syrian Army and the SDF have made it difficult for civilians to understand who is responsible for the violence or where the next danger may come from.

According to Bahhade, the previous day was particularly severe, with random missiles hitting residential areas and loud bombing sounds heard throughout the city. Because there was no clear information about where the attacks were taking place or who was carrying them out, most residents chose to stay inside their homes.

She said that starting early in the morning, the Ministry of Defense announced two humanitarian crossings to allow civilians to leave SDF-controlled areas, mainly Sheikh Maksoud and Ashrafieh. These crossings were open until 3:00 p.m., after which the areas were declared full military zones. A curfew was imposed, and civilians who remained were ordered not to leave their homes.

As a result, thousands of people fled these districts. Many sought refuge with relatives, while others moved to shelters that were recently announced following the escalation. These shelters are mainly located in mosques and churches. Despite these evacuation efforts, missile strikes continued in residential areas in the following hours.

Bahhade also confirmed that Armenian families were among those forced to evacuate. Some Armenian families left the Sheikh Maksoud area, while others in Meedan were affected after the neighborhood was hit by missiles the day before. She noted that more Armenians live in the Villat and Suleimaniya areas, which are close to the targeted zones and remain at risk as the situation continues to evolve.

As fighting persists and reliable information remains limited, Armenian families in Aleppo are facing fear, displacement, and uncertainty. Many remain confined to their homes or shelters, waiting for a ceasefire and hoping for stability to return to the city.

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