The Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) said : A 40-year-old man, identified as Walid Mansour al-Mhemid from Homs who was living and working in Manbij city in eastern rural Aleppo governorate as an elementary school teacher, was arrested on August 5, 2023, by Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) personnel following a verbal dispute between him and a clerk at the ‘kafala’ (sponsorship) renewal office (the SDF requires that IDPs living in areas under their control have a sponsor) in al-Serb neighborhood in Manbij city. He was then taken to al-Maliya Prison in Manbij city, where he was tortured to death. On August 8, 2023, the SDF informed his family of his death and returned his body to them.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) can confirm that Walid was in good health at the time of his arrest, indicating a strong possibility that he died due to torture and medical negligence in the SDF’s al-Maliya Prison in Manbij city.

SNHR notes that roughly 4,624 Syrian citizens are still under arrest and/or forcibly disappeared in SDF detention centers. We have serious concerns about their fate.
It should be also noted that roughly 94 Syrian citizens have died due to torture inside SDF detention centers.

On August 9, 2023, Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) used a rocket launcher to fire multiple rockets targeting Kuwait al-Rahma Camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Jabal al-Ahlam area in southeastern Afrin city in northwestern rural Aleppo governorate. The bombardment killed one civilian, identified as Sameh Mahmoud Tabbakh from al-Jalloum neighborhood in Aleppo city, and injured five others, including three children and one woman. The bombardment also caused material damage and partially destroyed a number of IDPs’ residences, in addition to generating a state of panic among the camp’s residents. The area is under the control of the Syrian National Army (SNA).

The Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) notes that, through this and similar attacks, SDF forces have unequivocally violated Security Council resolutions 2139 & 2254, both of which categorically prohibit indiscriminate attacks, as well as violating the rules of international humanitarian law on distinguishing between civilians and fighters. Such attacks aim solely to spread fear and panic among civilians.