A snapshot of recent incidents across Syrian governorates reveals a landscape marked by lawlessness, human rights abuses, and the systematic erasure of memory and heritage.
Recent Abductions and Enforced Disappearances
The phenomenon of enforced disappearance continues to plague Syrian society. On Sunday, 14 December, in the eastern countryside of Hama, civilian farmers Ghiyath Kanouj and his son Ahmed were abducted while working on their land in Al-Saboura village. They are not known to have any military or political affiliations.
Just days earlier, on the morning of Thursday, 11 December, contact was lost with young man Muhammad Samir Ajeeb as he traveled from Fadra village to Latakia city. His fate remains unknown.
In a concerning development targeting civil society, lawyer Dr. Shamis Mahfoud, head of the Democratic Civil Gathering, was arrested from his office in Damascus on 5 December. His private archive was confiscated, and he was transferred to an interrogation branch affiliated with the Jolani government on alleged charges of “conspiracy.”
In a separate case in Latakia, contact was lost with young man Hassan Samir Othman on the evening of Friday, 19 December. The last known communication was from Al-Azhari roundabout in the city, where he was supposed to meet a friend to retrieve a sum of money. No information about his whereabouts has been available since.
Armed Violence and Targeted Assassinations
Armed groups operate with impunity, instilling fear in civilian populations. In Kafr Qouq, Qatana (Damascus Countryside), an armed group led by Zafer Al-Na’mani recently opened fire on civilian homes, threatening residents to force them to evacuate.
In Aleppo’s Al-Seryan neighborhood, chaos turned deadly when two masked assailants on a motorcycle assassinated citizen Sami Ahmad Hassoun inside his office, firing 14 bullets at him. This incident underscores the unchecked proliferation of weapons and violence.
New Attack in Hama Countryside
A terrorist attack in Al-Saboura village, Hama countryside, involved two assailants on a motorcycle who opened fire randomly at civilians on the street and at several homes. Preliminary reports indicate a number of martyrs and 6 wounded, including a child, most in critical condition. The attackers entered from the north of the village, fired upon anyone they encountered on the main street, and fled south towards the village of Aqrab.
Sectarian Attack in Homs
In Homs, Al-Bayada neighborhood, citizen Taher Al-Sheikh (from Umm Al-Amad village in eastern Homs countryside and a member of the Shiite community) was seriously wounded after being shot by an armed gang while returning from work. He was hit by several bullets in different parts of his body, was taken to the hospital, and remains in critical condition.
Recent Violence and Tensions in Homs
The city of Homs has witnessed separate violent attacks in recent days. In the Al-Arman neighborhood, unidentified gunmen shot and wounded Yousef Abdul Maalem (49) inside his shop in broad daylight.
In a separate, tragic incident, the body of Mr. Mazen Al-Yousef (Abu Yamen), a well-known humanitarian worker and one of the first volunteers with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, was found murdered in cold blood in front of his print shop near the Cultural Center. The motives and perpetrators remain unknown.
New Incidents of Sectarian and Ideological Tensions
Disturbing reports highlight rising sectarian and ideological tensions. In Masyaf, Hama countryside, media sources circulated images showing armed individuals vandalizing and breaking tombstones belonging to members of the Alawite community, including the grave of a young child.
In Anjarah, western Aleppo countryside, circulated photos from yesterday show writings and slogans loyal to the terrorist organization “ISIS” (Daesh) on the walls of several buildings, indicating a resurgence of extremist ideology in some areas.
Theft of Cultural and Religious Heritage
Syria’s rich history is under direct attack through the theft of its cultural and religious artifacts. In a brazen robbery at the Historical Documents Center in Damascus (affiliated with the General Directorate of Antiquities and Museums), thieves stole electronic equipment and hard drives containing thousands of priceless documents. These included Ottoman court records and foundational documents of the Syrian state.
In a separate act of cultural vandalism, the bronze statue of St. Paul was recently stolen from St. Paul’s Church in the Bab Sharqi area of Damascus. The statue had been installed after restoration work in the early 2000s.
Ambiguous Releases and Ongoing Security Incidents
Some cases see ambiguous resolutions without accountability. The Jolani government released pediatrician Dr. Samar Issa in Jableh on 18 December after detaining him for over 15 days, providing no details for his arrest or release.
Similarly, in Homs, the father of Marah Mohannad Darwish announced her release via a Facebook post but shared no information about the circumstances of her initial abduction.
Meanwhile, in the countryside of As-Suwayda, National Defense Forces reported downing a suicide drone that attempted to target one of their positions in Al-Majdal town, highlighting the persistent, low-level security threats across the country.
Civilian Protest
In response to the sectarian crime that resulted in two martyrs and five wounded, a strike was observed in Saboura Salamiyah, Hama countryside, as a form of protest against the ongoing violence and instability.