Journalists detained, barred in Syria as government regains Aleppo areas

Sulaymaniyah, January 12, 2026 — The Committee to Protect Journalists expressed concern after Syrian government forces detained three journalists and imposed restrictions on independent reporting in the Aleppo neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyah following the government’s recapture of the areas following clashes with Kurdish units affiliated with the Syrian Democratic Forces.

“We are deeply troubled by the recent press violations in Aleppo that placed journalists — who have already endured severe abuses under the Assad regime — at risk,” said CPJ Regional Director Sara Qudah. “Only allowing selected journalists and media outlets to report on critical developments is a blatant attempt at controlling the narrative. CPJ calls on authorities to allow all journalists to report freely.”

On January 10, security forces briefly detained Iraqi Kurdistan-based Rudaw TV reporter Vivyan Fetah and cameraman Aland Issa while they were covering the clashes. The outlet’s public relations office told CPJ that “they were accused of terrorism and of changing the truth solely because they are Kurds.”

“After approximately one and a half hours, the journalists were freed,” the office said.

That same day, Istanbul-based Syria TV reporter Adnan Emam was detained by military police after filming a military convoy near the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood. 

“I was arrested at 3:00 p.m. I had entry permission from the defense ministry, but there was poor coordination,” he told CPJ.

Emam was released the following day after about 12 hours in detention, and said he was treated well while in custody. 

During the clashes, most journalists were prevented from reporting on the ground and barred from entering large parts of the affected areas by military forces. 

A freelance journalist, who requested anonymity for fear of reprisals, told CPJ that most independent journalists and media outlets “were blocked from covering the clashes, while media outlets aligned with the government, including Qatar-based Al Jazeera and Turkey’s TRT, were allowed to report from inside the area.”

“It was a clear monopolization of fair journalistic coverage,” the journalist said. “There may be scenes authorities do not want shown to the public. Journalism is meant to reflect reality as it is, not just polished images.”

In response to CPJ, Omar Haj Ahmed, director general of press affairs at the Ministry of Information, said “restrictions on access were imposed due to safety concerns and that journalists were allowed entry only after security measures and inspections.”

Ahmed said Emam “was held briefly for routine procedures” and that reports of Fetah’s detention “were incorrect.”