US-backed YPG snipers kill 65 civilians in Aleppo — report

The YPG-dominated US-backed SDF has killed at least 65 civilians, including a child, two women, and two humanitarian workers, in sniper attacks across Aleppo city over the past two months, according to a damning new report by the Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR).

The report described the killings as deliberate and systematic, constituting a clear violation of international law and potential war crimes.

YPG is the Syrian extension of the PKK terrorist organisation, which is proscribed by Türkiye, the US and the European Union.

The SNHR report, released on Tuesday, details how the YPG terrorists expanded their presence in key Aleppo neighbourhoods following the ousted Assad regime's withdrawal from the city on November 29, 2024.

In the ensuing weeks, snipers stationed in areas such as al Sheikh Maqsoud and al Ashrafiya have repeatedly targeted civilians, including those attempting to return to their homes or check the state of their homes.

SNHR highlighted that many victims were non-combatants, moving through the city on foot, motorcycles, or vehicles. The YPG attacks also severely impacted humanitarian efforts, as the snipers reportedly fired on Syrian Red Crescent and White Helmets personnel when they attempted to retrieve the bodies of the dead.

“These are not random or accidental killings,” the report states. “The pattern of attacks suggests a premeditated strategy aimed at terrorising the population and asserting control over key urban areas.”

A pattern of targeting civilians

The US-backed SDF exploited a military vacuum created by the fallen regime’s retreat, swiftly taking over neighbourhoods such as al Siryan, al Midan, and al Hollok, as well as critical points like al Jandoul Roundabout and Castello Road, the report said.

Ankara has for years expressed concern about the US backing of YPG, something that Washington does under the pretext of fighting Daesh.

As they fortified these positions, sniper teams were deployed in key locations, turning the contested zones into deadly traps for returning civilians.

The SNHR has also documented dozens of cases of enforced disappearances, with individuals vanishing after attempting to enter SDF-controlled areas. The fate of these missing persons remains unknown.

The deliberate nature of these attacks violates fundamental principles of international humanitarian law, the report asserts.

Under Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), every person has the inherent right to life, which must be protected by law. The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) also classifies the intentional killing of civilians as a war crime.

“The SDF’s actions represent a blatant disregard for international norms,” the report states. “Snipers have deliberately targeted individuals who posed no military threat, including women, children, and aid workers. This constitutes a serious breach of the principle of distinction between civilians and combatants.”

Calls for accountability

The SNHR called on the international community to take immediate action to hold the SDF accountable for these violations. It urged human rights organisations and legal bodies to launch investigations into the reported war crimes and to press for those responsible to face justice.

In addition to civilian casualties, the sniper attacks have disrupted humanitarian operations, worsening conditions for residents in war-torn Aleppo.

The report highlights the urgent need for international pressure to ensure protection for civilians and humanitarian workers in the city.

The situation in Aleppo remains dire as the conflict enters another phase of uncertainty. While the YPG terrorists vie for control, it is civilians who continue to pay the heaviest price.