ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – The United States' Central Command (CENTCOMM) on Tuesday urged restraint amid tensions between Damascus-affiliated and Kurdish-led forces in Syria's Aleppo, adding that they are "closely monitoring" the situation.

Forces affiliated with Damascus in early January launched a military offensive against the Kurdish-led internal security (Asayish) in Aleppo's Kurdish-majority neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh, aiming to drive the Asayish out of the neighborhoods. 

"We are closely monitoring developments in Aleppo and the surrounding region. We urge all parties to exercise maximum restraint, avoid actions that could further escalate tensions, and prioritize the protection of civilians and critical infrastructure," CENTCOM Commander Brad. Cooper said in a statement on Tuesday.

"We also continue to call on all relevant actors to return to the negotiating table in good faith and to pursue a durable diplomatic resolution through dialogue," the commander said, adding that the US and Syria have a "shared interest in preserving peace and stability across the region.”

Speaking to The New Region earlier in the day, Elham Ahmed, head of Rojava's foreign relations office said that if Washington "speaks truthfully," it can bring peace to Syria and "stop the fighting."

When asked about speculations that the Aleppo campaign was greenlit by Washington, Ahmed said that "I don't know if they gave permission or not."

The beginning of Damascus's campaign coincided with a meeting between Syrian and Israeli officials that saw the signing of a security and intelligence cooperation agreement under the auspices of the United States. A day after the agreement was announced, Damascus-affiliated factions began targeting Kurdish-majority neighborhoods in Aleppo to expel internal Kurdish-led forces.

The clashes went on for six days and led to hundreds of civilian casualties and the displacement of more than 155,000 residents.

At least 38 Damascus-affiliated fighters, one Asayish member, and 43 civilians were killed, and over 115 others injured in nearly a week of fighting, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR).

While Damascus announced an end to its operation in Aleppo, tensions remain high, with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) announcing earlier on Tuesday that Syrian government factions had carried out attacks in and near Deir Hafer, and around Tishreen dam.