KURDWATCH, February 24, 2013—From February 8 to February 11, 2013, heavy fighting occurred between members of the Democratic Union Party’s (PYD) People’s Defense Units (YPG) and Syrian government troops in the predominantly Kurdish district al‑Ashrafiyah in Aleppo. In addition to numerous soldiers, at least five YPG fighters and two civilians were killed. According to information from the YPG, their members did not die in battle, but rather were taken prisoner by government troops, severely tortured, and then executed.