Documentation of the Killing of Three Women in Afrin During an Armed Attack and the Discovery of the Body of an Unidentified Woman in Separate Incidents
Four women were killed in the Afrin region of northern Syria on 27 and 29 January 2026 in separate violent incidents. These included an armed attack targeting a civilian vehicle on the Aleppo–Afrin road, as well as the discovery of the body of an unidentified woman in an agricultural village in rural Afrin. These incidents reflect the continued deterioration of the security situation and the exposure of civilians—particularly women—to grave violations that threaten the right to life.
On the evening of Thursday, 29 January 2026, unidentified armed individuals riding a motorcycle opened direct fire on a civilian vehicle (taxi) transporting three women on the Aleppo–Afrin road, at the Bayanon junction.
According to available information, the attack resulted in the killing of the three women who were inside the vehicle, in addition to injuring two other individuals from the same family. The victims are from the village of Maryamin in rural Afrin and are identified as:
Rania Haji Hassan
Izza Firas Haji Hassan
Fatima Batayhi
In a separate incident, on 29 January 2026, the body of an unidentified woman was found at the Kafardali Tahtani junction, in the Jindires subdistrict of rural Afrin. According to preliminary information, the victim was killed under unclear circumstances and sustained a gunshot wound to the head. The identity of the victim and the circumstances surrounding the incident have not yet been established.
These incidents occur within the broader context of ongoing security deterioration and systematic violations in the Afrin region since Turkey and affiliated armed factions took control of the area on 18 March 2018.
The recurrence of such crimes—particularly those targeting women—underscores the gravity of the security situation and the continued exposure of civilians to serious violations of the right to life and personal security. This necessitates independent and transparent investigations and the accountability of those responsible.
