Severed Braid Trophy Video Sparks Outrage as Syrian Forces Advance

A video showing a Syrian militiaman holding a severed braid has caused international outrage. The fighter claims the hair was taken from a Kurdish woman in the recently captured city of Raqqa. The graphic footage prompted immediate protests. Kurdish groups and human rights organizations condemned the act as a brutal violation. The incident occurs as the Syrian government, led by Damascus, is expanding its control over northern areas. This advance is happening despite a fragile nationwide ceasefire. Damascus has not commented on the video. The braid is seen by many as a shocking symbol of the ongoing ethnic tensions and violence in the region.