On Monday, September 22, 2025, Zuhair al-Namshat and Maimoun al-Saeed al-Khalaf, both 17 years old, were killed by indiscriminate gunfire by SDF members during a raid in the al-Wahb neighborhood in the center of Tabqa city, west of Raqqa. The area where the attack occurred is under SDF control.
According to information we obtained from reliable local sources, a group of SDF military personnel raided several civilian homes in the neighborhood and opened fire indiscriminately during the raid, wounding Zuhair and Maimoun, who died instantly. A 4-year-old child was also injured. The forces also arrested civilians Ibrahim al-Laili and Hamoud al-Qaytawi in the al-Wahb neighborhood and took them to an unknown location.
We are continuing our investigations, including reviewing and gathering more evidence and information. Therefore, we hope that anyone with information or details related to this incident will provide them to us via our official email address: [email protected]
Legal Conclusions:
- The indiscriminate firing of unarmed civilians by members of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), without an immediate threat to their lives, constitutes a grave violation of the right to life under international humanitarian law.
- The incident highlights the lack of disciplinary and accountability mechanisms within the forces controlling the area, particularly since no judicial action has been taken against the responsible personnel, perpetuating a culture of impunity.
- The incident highlights the danger of using excessive and disproportionate force against civilians, which could lead to widespread societal unrest and further erode confidence in the controlling forces.
The Syrian Network for Human Rights’ recommendations:
- Open an immediate and impartial investigation into the incident, under the supervision of an independent body, including a review of open-fire orders, interrogation of the responsible personnel, and determination of direct criminal responsibility.
- Refer those responsible for the shooting to fair accountability before a competent civil court that guarantees victims’ rights and the transparency of proceedings.
- Provide prompt and appropriate compensation to the families of the victims, including material, moral, and psychological support, in accordance with international reparations standards.
- Retrain and rehabilitate SDF personnel, especially those involved in raids and checkpoints, on human rights principles and the legitimate use of force.
- Emphasize the Syrian government’s responsibility to protect Syrian citizens in all areas, and ensure that perpetrators of violations are held accountable and that victims are compensated.
