Jihadists members of the de facto authority, led by Abu Mohammad al-Jolani (Ahmad al-Sharaa), with the direct participation of units under the Ministry of Defense—including Division 62 (al-Amshat), Division 72 (Sultan Murad), Division 76 (Hamza), and Division 80 (Nour al-Din al-Zenki)—carried out an attack on the “Grand Mosque” near the al-Jabanat area in Sheikh Maqsoud, using heavy machine guns and mortar shells.

This direct targeting of a place of worship with heavy weaponry constitutes a grave violation of International Humanitarian Law and amounts to a war crime within the context of the armed conflict, as it represents an assault on protected sites and civilians in a populated area.

📍 Aleppo – Ashrafieh and Sheikh Maqsoud

Documented footage shows thousands of members of terrorist factions, operating as part of the Ministry of Defense under the de facto authority—factions listed under international sanctions and designated as terrorist organizations, representing a practical extension of ISIS in terms of ideology and criminal behavior—gathering on the outskirts of predominantly Kurdish neighborhoods in Ashrafieh and Sheikh Maqsoud. This constitutes a clear preparation for a potential brutal attack on densely populated civilian areas inhabited by approximately 600,000 civilians.

⚠️ The footage also documents incitement with a jihadist character, showing members of these terrorist factions calling for the killing of Kurdish civilians in Aleppo, while promising “paradise” to fighters who are killed during these attacks. This behavior reflects a clear ISIS-inspired ideology based on takfir and incitement to mass violence.

❗ These developments constitute an early warning of potential war crimes and represent a serious violation of International Humanitarian Law, particularly the principles of civilian protection and the prohibition of incitement to violence based on ethnic or sectarian identity.

📎 The de facto authority, led by al-Jolani, is the commanding and sponsoring entity of these terrorist factions integrated within its Ministry of Defense and under its direct control. Media outlets affiliated with this authority also bear direct responsibility for acting as propaganda channels that mislead public opinion, provide media cover, and remain silent about the crimes and violations committed against civilians.

Documented video footage shows factions affiliated with the Damascus government, operating under the Ministry of Defense of the de facto terrorist authority, converting a civilian service facility (the Agricultural Directorate building) into a military headquarters and tank base. Heavy vehicles and tanks are stationed in the building and are being used to shell the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh neighborhoods.

⚠️ The militarization of civilian infrastructure constitutes:
• A blatant violation of International Humanitarian Law.
• The deliberate use of civilians and civilian infrastructure as human shields.
• Evidence of a systematic pattern of crimes that cannot be justified or denied.