On Wednesday, July 2, 2025, 12-year-old Ali Abbas Al-Aouni, a native of the village of Umm Jalal, east of Manbij, who lived in the Al-Ramila neighborhood north of Raqqa, was killed by direct gunfire from a member of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). He was near a military checkpoint stationed at a sugar factory near the Shanina junction north of Raqqa.
According to information obtained by the Syrian Network for Human Rights from reliable local sources, the child was standing near a wheat truck parked in the area. When a checkpoint guard asked him to move away, the child refused to move. The guard then shot him directly, injuring him and killing him instantly. According to available information, the guard fled the scene after shooting the child.
Legal Conclusions
- The fact that a member of the Syrian Democratic Forces opened fire on an unarmed child while he was in a public place, without an immediate threat to his life, constitutes a grave violation of the right to life.
- The incident highlights the lack of disciplinary and accountability mechanisms within the forces controlling the area, particularly since no immediate judicial action was taken against the responsible personnel, perpetuating a culture of impunity.
Recommendations by SNHR
- Open an immediate and impartial investigation into the incident, under the supervision of an independent body. The investigation should include a review of open-fire orders, interrogation of personnel at the checkpoint, and determination of direct criminal responsibility.
- Bring those responsible for the shooting to fair accountability, including trial before a competent civilian court that guarantees the rights of the victim and the transparency of proceedings.
- Providing urgent and appropriate compensation to the family of the child Ali Al-Aouni, including material, moral, and psychological support, in accordance with international standards for reparations.
- Retraining and rehabilitating members of the Syrian Democratic Forces, in accordance with human rights standards and principles on the use of force, and activating internal military oversight over these sites.
- The transitional government in Damascus is responsible for protecting Syrian citizens throughout Syria, compensating them, and holding perpetrators of violations accountable.
