DAMASCUS, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) -- Several people were shot and wounded in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo on Monday, triggering road closures and heightened security measures, Syria's security authorities said, as a senior Turkish delegation was in Damascus for high-level talks.

Forces affiliated with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) opened fire on joint security checkpoints after a sudden withdrawal, despite previously reached agreements, the authorities said. It added that the attack wounded a member of the Internal Security Forces and a soldier, as well as several Civil Defense personnel and civilians.

The Syrian Civil Defense said two of its members were wounded after coming under fire while on duty near the al-Shihan roundabout. It added that a clearly marked Civil Defense pickup truck carrying four uniformed rescuers was also targeted by gunfire in Aleppo.

Aleppo's Health Directorate said four people wounded in the attack were hospitalized. State television reported that dozens of families fled their homes in the area, which came under heavy machine-gun fire and mortar shelling.

The incident occurred while a high-level Turkish delegation, comprising Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Defense Minister Yasar Guler, and intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin, was in Damascus for meetings with Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa and senior officials to discuss bilateral relations, regional developments, and security cooperation.

During a joint press conference earlier in the day, Syria's interim foreign chief Asaad Hassan al-Shibani referred to the March agreement between the Syrian interim government and the SDF, saying it reflects the country's determination to accelerate integration and unify its territory "in a civilized manner." He warned that any delay in implementing the agreement and integrating the Kurdish-led SDF would be unjust to the region and its residents.

The March agreement established a framework for dialogue aimed at integrating military and administrative structures into the Syrian state, safeguarding territorial unity, and addressing governance and security arrangements in the northeast. While hailed as a step toward reducing fragmentation, the deal has faced repeated delays and tensions on the ground.

Monday's violence underscores the fragile security situation in parts of northern Syria, where sporadic clashes and attacks continue despite ongoing political efforts to stabilize the country and advance reconciliation during the transitional period. Enditem