"Shaha Ali Abdu, also known as Nujeen Dirik, was killed early on Friday. She headed a Kurdish popular defence unit that is part of the Democratic Union Party (PYD)," Syria's branch of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
"She was killed a week after she was captured by rebels," the Britain-based watchdog added.
The PYD opposes the regime of President Bashar al-Assad but has taken a neutral position in ongoing fighting in embattled Aleppo, the country's commercial hub.
Clashes between the rebels and Kurdish militia in Aleppo reportedly left 30 dead last week, sparking fears of a new front in the already fractured country.
According to the Observatory, 42-year-old Dirik was captured when she went to hand over to the rebels the bodies of opposition fighters killed in the fighting.
"She was killed a week after she was captured by rebels," the Britain-based watchdog added.
The PYD opposes the regime of President Bashar al-Assad but has taken a neutral position in ongoing fighting in embattled Aleppo, the country's commercial hub.
Clashes between the rebels and Kurdish militia in Aleppo reportedly left 30 dead last week, sparking fears of a new front in the already fractured country.
According to the Observatory, 42-year-old Dirik was captured when she went to hand over to the rebels the bodies of opposition fighters killed in the fighting.
