Documentation of the Killing of Kurdish Civilians Based on Identity in Northern Syria
Human rights organizations have documented the killing of several Kurdish civilians based on their identity and ethnic affiliation during operations carried out by elements of the Syrian Arab Army and allied tribal forces in several Kurdish-majority towns in northern Syria over the past two days.
According to these organizations, the violations were carried out under the supervision of Turkish intelligence operatives who were wearing Syrian military uniforms as well as clothing associated with Arab tribal forces. The abuses targeted Kurdish civilians and members of the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG), formerly part of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Due to the extreme brutality of the crimes and the graphic nature of the video footage, rights groups have refrained from publishing the materials.
Among the documented cases is the killing of Hanan Mohammad Qisho, a vegetable vendor from the city of Tabqa, originally from the village of Khalil in the Shiyeh subdistrict of Afrin countryside. He was killed on Monday, January 19, 2025, while traveling on a public road during his return from Tabqa to the Afrin area.
