Gunfire Targeting Protesters in the Syrian Coast and Interior Amid Rising Security Tensions

Protesters in the cities of Homs and Latakia were subjected to gunfire on Tuesday evening during popular demonstrations held to condemn recent acts of violence, amid escalating tensions in areas controlled by the Syrian Transitional Government.

According to local sources in Latakia, a sit-in was organized at the Agriculture Roundabout with participation from protesters belonging to the Alawite community, in protest of what happened in Homs. They were attacked by a group of young men and teenagers who initially threw stones at them, before the tension escalated into gunfire aimed at dispersing the demonstrators, amid initial reports of injuries.

In Homs, local sources said that similar groups attacked protesters using sticks and knives, resulting in additional injuries. Protesters were also subjected to direct or warning gunfire over their heads to disperse them, while information regarding the number of injuries remains conflicting.

A state of security tension prevails in several Syrian cities under the control of the Transitional Government, coinciding with heavy security deployment following the shooting incidents targeting protesters.