Dead, wounded in armed clashes in Tel Kocher amid discontent over security chaos

Two people were killed and five others wounded after a dispute escalated into an armed clash between two families from the Arab Shammar tribe in Tel Kocher, amid rising security tensions.

19 February, 2026 17:28

NEWS DESK

The town of Tel Kocher, in the southeastern countryside of al-Jazira canton in northeastern Syria, witnessed armed clashes between the “al-Rakkad” and “al-Sanousi” families, both belonging to the Arab Shammar tribe. The dispute is reportedly linked to an oil well in the village of Karhouk, makeshift oil refineries, and oil-related theft.

According to information obtained by ANHA correspondent, the disagreement escalated into a gun battle, resulting in the deaths of two individuals: Mani’ al-Sarhan and Suleiman al-Sanousi. Five others sustained varying degrees of injuries and were transferred to a hospital in the city of al-Shaddadi for treatment.

The injured are: Saud al-Sanousi, Haikal al-Rakkad, Alaa al-Hleil, Mohammad Salman al-Sanousi, and Adel Suleiman al-Sanousi.

This incident comes amid heightened security tensions in areas recently taken control of by the interim government forces in Syria. Residents report ongoing security chaos and persistent disputes, alongside a number of killings and kidnappings recorded in recent weeks.

ANHA