Report alleges transitional forces detained, abused Kurdish civilians in Aleppo

A new report by Syrians for Truth and Justice (STJ) alleges that forces aligned with Syria’s transitional government carried out widespread arbitrary arrests, abuse and possible enforced disappearances of Kurdish civilians in Aleppo’s Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh during the January 6–12, 2026 escalation. STJ says checkpoints and so‑called humanitarian corridors—notably the al‑Awarid crossing—were used to separate men and boys from women, screen them for alleged links to the SDF and move many to undisclosed locations. The operation followed renewed fighting after a fragile ceasefire collapsed; the transitional government announced a military operation on 7 January while the SDF denied maintaining positions inside the neighbourhoods and said local Asayish forces had responsibility. The United Nations estimated about 148,000 people were displaced during the fighting.

Allegations, impact and demands

Former detainees and witnesses described beatings, insults, confiscation of belongings and overcrowded holding sites; families report losing contact with relatives detained at checkpoints. Local sources said dozens and possibly hundreds of bodies were transferred to Aleppo’s Forensic Medicine Centre, with rights groups suggesting more than 100 civilian deaths though authorities have not published casualty lists. STJ argues these practices violate Syrian constitutional safeguards and international law, and in some cases may amount to enforced disappearance under the Rome Statute. The organisation has called for disclosure of detainees’ fates, independent investigations, judicial oversight of detentions and the release of anyone held without legal grounds. Although a ceasefire and agreement were reached on 18 January, many returnees to Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh say they continue to face arrests, night raids and uncertainty over missing relatives, as reported by The Syrian Observer

This story has also been reported by: SANA