Escalating security unrest in Syria threatens civil peace 

For the second consecutive day, violence and security unrest persisted in several areas across Syria, amid widespread tension and concern following a series of attacks that took place the previous day under slogans calling for the prosecution of “shabiha” (pro-regime militias) and individuals accused of violations during the war years.

Following incidents in cities and towns in the countryside of Homs, Idlib, Hama, Damascus, and Aleppo—which included attacks on individuals and private property, the burning of cars and shops, and the public dragging of some individuals through the streets—violence and tension resumed on Tuesday in various parts of the country.

In Damascus, local sources reported that a young man named Rabie Ghanem, owner of “Al-Rabie Center” in the Mezzeh Khazan area, was stabbed several times on Tuesday. Another young man, Issa Al-Saftli, a neighborhood committee member, was reportedly shot directly. Preliminary information suggested that both were in critical condition.

The Mezzeh 86 neighborhood, which has an Alawite majority, also witnessed fear and tension following an attempt by groups from the Sheikh Saad area to enter the neighborhood. According to local reports, the incident involved heavy gunfire, chants, and threats against residents who were labeled as “shabiha,” in addition to vandalism of shops and sectarian insults.

In a related development, community leaders and residents of the Ash Al-Warwar neighborhood in Damascus issued a statement condemning all crimes committed against Syrians. They expressed support for legitimate demands within the framework of law and the state, stressing that “there should be no protection for any criminal regardless of status, religious affiliation, sect, or denomination.”

They also called for rejecting sedition and sectarian incitement, strengthening social peace and national unity, and thanked the Ministry of Interior and public security forces for efforts to protect demonstrators and maintain security.

In Homs province, the repercussions of events in the city of Palmyra continued, with local sources reporting that dozens of families had fled the city after residents were targeted under accusations of belonging to “remnants of the former regime.”

Meanwhile, the Al-Aqeedat tribe escalated its rhetoric, threatening further measures unless security forces intervene and hold the “Ahrar Tadmor” faction accountable after it was accused of burning a rest area belonging to a member of the tribe under allegations of links to “shabiha.”

The Tribal Council in Hama province also issued a statement addressing the recent tensions, calling for accountability for those responsible for violations against Syrians and warning against allowing demands for justice to turn into revenge and chaos that could threaten social peace.

Several Syrian regions had already witnessed simultaneous unrest the previous day, along with the circulation of sectarian leaflets. The violence was concentrated in neighborhoods of Damascus and towns in the Hama, Idlib, and Homs countryside, involving attacks on homes and shops, the burning of vehicles, and assaults on individuals. Observers linked these developments to growing frustration caused by delays in the transitional justice process and unresolved issues of accountability and restitution of rights.

No official casualty figures or estimates of damage have yet been released. Security authorities have so far limited their response to calls for restraint and warnings against being drawn into chaos and incitement. Meanwhile, fears continue to rise that ongoing tensions may further endanger social peace and revive the divisions that Syria suffered throughout years of conflict.

A-H

ANHA