Fighting erupted between the Syrian government and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the northern city of Aleppo, despite a deal expected to come into force at the start of the year. The agreement, aimed at integrating the SDF with the Syrian army, has stalled due to disagreements over its implementation. The renewed violence has highlighted the complex security challenges facing Syria, a year after the fall of President Bashar al-Assad.

According to Steven Heydemann, director of the Middle East Studies programme at Smith College, the current situation reflects the ongoing volatility in the region. "The Syrian government and the SDF have been at odds over the terms of their agreement, which has led to this renewed fighting," he said. "The SDF wants greater autonomy and representation in the government, while the Syrian government is pushing for a more centralized control."

Haid Haid, a researcher at Chatham House, attributed the tensions to the differing interests of the two parties. "The SDF is concerned about its own survival and the protection of its territory, while the Syrian government is focused on consolidating its power and maintaining control over the country," he explained.

The conflict with the SDF is just one of several security challenges facing Syria. The country continues to grapple with the threat of the Islamic State (ISIL), also known as ISIS, which has carried out recurrent attacks in recent months. The Syrian government has also been engaged in conflicts with the Druze community, a minority group that has long been a thorn in the side of the Assad regime.

The situation has been further complicated by ongoing attacks by Israel, which has carried out airstrikes against Syrian and Iranian targets in recent months. Omer Ozkizilcik, a nonresident fellow for the Syria project in the Atlantic Council's Middle East programme, noted that the Israeli attacks have created a sense of uncertainty and instability in the region. "The Israeli strikes have raised questions about the future of Syria and the role of external actors in the country's politics," he said.

The Syrian government has maintained that it is committed to implementing the agreement with the SDF, but the current violence has raised concerns about the feasibility of this goal. As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen whether the Syrian government and the SDF will be able to find a way forward and address the complex security challenges facing the country.

In the meantime, the international community is watching the situation closely, as the fate of Syria hangs in the balance. The United Nations has called for a ceasefire and the resumption of peace talks, but so far, there has been little progress on this front. As the situation in Syria continues to deteriorate, it is clear that a long and difficult road lies ahead for the country and its people.