Kobani university appeals for probe after student lost legs in attack
KOBANI, Syria (North Press) – The AANES’s University of Kobani in the city of Kobani, northern Syria, released on Sunday a statement condemning the Jan. 25 assault on the village of Karab Ashk, which claimed the lives of five members of a single Kurdish family and wounded five others, including children. One of the survivors, first-year law student Fatima Haj Mahmoud, lost both legs in the attack, underscoring the human cost of continued violence.
University officials expressed deep sorrow over the incident, describing Fatima as an ambitious student whose educational and life prospects have been dramatically altered.
They pledged psychological and social support for her recovery and education, and extended condolences to all affected families.
The statement appealed directly to international and human rights organizations to investigate the attack and ensure civilian protections under international law.
The attack came amid wider clashes in and around Kobani and across cities in north and east Syria, where forces linked to the Syrian transitional government and allied armed groups have reportedly violated a recently announced ceasefire on several occasions, according to local sources and monitoring agencies.
These violations, which included shelling of villages and attempts to advance into Kurdish-administered areas, have inflicted civilian casualties and displacement in the region.
In late January and early February 2026, the Syrian transitional government and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) reached a comprehensive ceasefire and integration agreement aimed at ending months of hostilities in northeastern Syria and restoring state authority in key regions.
Under the deal, an immediate and nationwide ceasefire was declared, SDF military formations withdrew from frontline positions, and Syrian government security forces entered major cities such as Hasakah and Qamishli to assume administrative responsibilities.
The agreement provides for the phased integration of SDF military and security personnel into the Syrian army and interior ministry structures, while civilian institutions in former SDF-administered areas will be brought under state control.
It also envisages the transfer of border crossings, oil and gas fields, and other strategic facilities to Damascus authority, with guarantees for the continuation of existing civil service roles and the protection of Kurdish civil and educational rights.
The framework has been described by Arab states as a step toward stabilizing Syria and strengthening national unity, although observers note challenges remain in implementation and mutual trust.