Notorious checkpoint in western rural Homs returns to spotlight

The Notorious checkpoint, located in western rural Homs, has resurfaced once again, bringing with it its infamous reputation and long-standing repressive practices. Its members have resumed their previous policies with no legal oversight or deterrence of any kind.

This time, the checkpoint has re-established an environment of oppression and injustice over local residents—especially young men—in what appears to be one of the most severe waves of extortion to date.

According to local sources from nearby villages, the checkpoint is currently headed by a man known as Abu Omar, a member of the Al-Zakahy family, whose name had previously been linked to crackdowns and human rights abuses before he was briefly removed from the Al-Houla area following repeated complaints.

However, Abu Omar has recently returned—accompanied by his brother Abu Hamza and their security team—to reactivate the checkpoint after an absence of only about twenty days.

Since his return, a systematic campaign has begun that appears almost retaliatory, particularly against young men from the Alawite community, according to passing residents.

The checkpoint targets young men, forcing them to provide weapons said to be “missing,” even though most of those detained insist they do not own any weapons at all.

Nevertheless, the checkpoint’s personnel use threats and fabricated accusations to pressure the young men into either confessing to possessing weapons or purchasing weapons and handing them over to the checkpoint, according to local residents.

ANHA correspondents in rural Homs report that the most infuriating aspect is that many young men have already been forced to buy weapons—through a broker working with the checkpoint’s members—and then hand them over out of fear of punishment.

Sources further confirmed that the situation has escalated, as the checkpoint now insists that young men supply additional quantities of weapons, even if they have already paid and delivered weapons previously. This ongoing pattern has pushed many young men to flee their villages to avoid further harassment, creating an atmosphere of fear and constant anxiety within the community.

Indications show that this is not the first campaign of its kind by the Hercules checkpoint; it has conducted similar operations before, repeatedly forcing residents to buy and surrender allegedly missing weapons.

In addition, reports have increased of residents being subjected to public abuse, including physical and verbal humiliation and severe beatings, along with intensified nighttime patrol activity, heightening the sense of insecurity in nearby villages.

In another troubling development, the village of Hercules witnessed several major thefts in recent days, targeting cattle and private property inside homes, while security authorities remain completely absent and have taken no real measures to protect residents or prevent these crimes, according to locals.

a.k

ANHA