Lelun Afrin
This in-depth investigation reveals a disturbing reality that goes far beyond isolated violations: a unified and carefully coordinated machinery of repression—resembling a military-style organization—operated by factions of the Syrian National Army across two geographically distant areas that share striking similarities: Afrin, in northern Aleppo, and the Syrian coastal region in Latakia governorate.
In both regions, identical patterns of abuse have emerged: the same slogans, the same methods of torture, the same forms of execution, and often the same perpetrators.
These findings are based on fifteen detailed testimonies from victims and eyewitnesses, documenting how sectarian and ethnic differences have been weaponized as justifications for systematic war crimes. In Afrin, the “Sultan Suleiman Shah” faction (known as al-Amshat) and the “Hamza Division” (al-Hamzat) have been systematically targeting Kurdish civilians since 2018, according to witness accounts included in this report.
Meanwhile, on the Syrian coast, Alawite civilians have been the primary targets since March 2025, under sectarian slogans such as “cleansing Islam of the Alawite pigs.”
One name repeatedly cited in testimonies is Munaf al-Daher, described as moving between Afrin and the coast with his brother and entourage. One female witness stated, “He knew exactly how to torture without killing—as if he had special training.” The recurring mention of his name and conduct points to his central role as a link between detention centers in the two regions, reinforcing the hypothesis of a coordinated network facilitating the transfer of repressive “expertise” across areas.
The collected evidence suggests these crimes are neither random acts nor immediate reactions but part of a deliberate strategy of sectarian and ethnic cleansing. This strategy is executed by a sophisticated criminal network involving secret prisons, equipped torture facilities, trained fighters and officers operating across regions, and clear military-security coordination.
The repeated phrase in survivor testimonies—“We’ll take you beyond the sun”—used in both geographic contexts, stands as compelling evidence of a unified and consistent system of repression. It supports the hypothesis of centralized directives or shared training within these factions.
You may read and download the full version of this report (30 pages) in PDF format by clicking here.