Syrian Observatory: Security Tensions in the Countryside of Al-Qardaha and the Killing of a Person in Clashes with Public Police

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the village of Al-Deirouna in the countryside of Al-Qardaha, Latakia Governorate, witnessed severe security tensions yesterday evening. This occurred after Public Security vehicles entered the village and raided the home of a former detainee from Saidnaya prison, who had been released following the opening of prisons during the fall of the previous regime. The individual was accused of crimes including robbery and kidnapping.

According to the Observatory, clashes erupted between security forces and villagers, resulting in the death of one person, with reports indicating a possible second fatality. Security personnel fired randomly at homes, while military reinforcements were deployed to the area. Additionally, there were reports of several civilians being arrested.

The Observatory also noted that the clashes caused a fire to break out in the forests of Al-Qardaha – Al-Deirouna, with flames approaching residential areas, causing fear among the residents.

The Observatory further pointed out that on August 5th, a Public Security officer and another individual were killed, and an officer seriously injured, following a bomb explosion when an assailant attacked a security checkpoint in the Al-Qardaha area.

On the other hand, local sources denied that the attacker was from the area, accusing the security authorities of spreading narratives “unrelated to reality.”