Civilians were injured and killed in the Raqqa and al-Hasakah provinces in northeastern Syria due to the gunfire from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) at demonstrators on Thursday, December 12.
The “Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently” campaign, a rights group concerned with documenting events in Raqqa, reported that four people were killed by SDF fire near the Raqqa courthouse, with several others injured, some in critical condition.
Video recordings circulated on social media show SDF members firing upon protests in the cities of Raqqa and al-Hasakah.
The recordings showed a group of demonstrators carrying one of the injured individuals.
A correspondent for Enab Baladi in al-Hasakah reported that the SDF dispersed a militia with live ammunition during a demonstration in the city that raised the flag of the revolution and called for the removal of SDF elements from the province.
As of the time of preparing this report, the toll of casualties in al-Hasakah was not yet known.
The demonstrations erupted following the announcement by the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), the political umbrella of the SDF, that it would adopt the raising of the Syrian revolution flag across all councils, institutions, and facilities under its control in the region.
The demonstrators raised the Syrian revolution flag, but SDF elements responded with gunfire.
AANES stated in a statement today that its decision to raise the revolution flag came on the occasion of “the end of the era of oppression and tyranny imposed by the Syrian regime on the people for more than half a century.”
It added that amidst what it called a “historical transformation,” the flag of independence (the revolution flag) with its three colors: green, white, and black, along with the three red stars, symbolizes the new phase.
It noted that this flag expresses the aspirations of the Syrian people towards freedom, dignity, and national unity.
AANES announced today a curfew across all controlled areas for security reasons.
It added that the curfew will be in effect from five o’clock in the evening until eight in the morning, starting tomorrow, Friday, until further notice.
The curfew decision came in light of the current phase the region is going through, indicating that the curfew aims to avoid any actions that would affect the safety and security of citizens.
AANES frequently issues decisions banning motorcycles or other types of transport in its controlled areas for limited time periods.
This ban affects the movement of residents in northeastern Syria, especially in cities, where residents rely on motorbikes for transportation and work.