On Thursday, July 17, 2025, Abdullah Abdul Rahman Othman al-Saleh al-Bakr, 18, from the city of Mayadin east of Deir Ez-Zour, was killed by gunfire from members of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) stationed in the village of al-Hawayej east of Deir Ez-Zour Governorate, an area under their control.
According to information obtained by the Syrian Network for Human Rights from reliable local sources, members of the Syrian Democratic Forces stationed on the opposite bank of the Euphrates River from where Abdullah was located shot him while he was fishing in the Al-Layth area, located in the town of Buqras, east of Deir Ezzor, which is under the control of the transitional government. He was taken to Al-Hamad Hospital in the city of Al-Mayadin, but he died from his injuries.
Legal conclusions:
• The opening of fire by members of the Syrian Democratic Forces on Abdullah al-Bakr, an unarmed civilian, while he was fishing in the Euphrates River, without any direct threat to their lives, constitutes a gross violation of the right to life.
• The incident points to a lack of discipline and accountability mechanisms within the forces controlling the area, especially since no immediate legal action was taken against the responsible members, which perpetuates a culture of impunity.
Recommendations of the Syrian Network for Human Rights:
• Open an immediate and impartial investigation into the incident, supervised by an independent body, including a review of the orders to open fire, questioning of the personnel at the checkpoint, and determination of direct criminal responsibility.
• Refer those responsible for the shooting to fair accountability, including trial before a competent civil court that guarantees the rights of the victim and transparency of proceedings.
• Provide urgent and adequate compensation to the family of Abdullah al-Bakr, including material, moral, and psychological support, in accordance with international standards for redress.
• Retrain and rehabilitate Syrian Democratic Forces checkpoint personnel in accordance with human rights standards and principles on the use of force and activate internal military oversight of these sites.
• The transitional government in Damascus has a responsibility to protect Syrian citizens throughout Syrian territory, compensate them, and hold perpetrators of violations accountable.
