Homs: Ongoing Security Tensions Following Armed Attacks on City Neighborhoods

Tension continues in the city of Homs following the armed attacks that targeted neighborhoods inside the city yesterday, followed by overnight violations despite the curfew extended by the transitional government until this evening, while sectarian polarization and government incapacity have worsened the crisis and increased the violations affecting civilians.

Armed Attacks on Civilian Neighborhoods
Security tensions persist in the city of Homs as armed groups attack civilian neighborhoods with an Alawite-majority population, committing violations against residents, while the city is witnessing a noticeable weakness in security controls and an absence of measures to limit potential risks.
Last night, gunmen threw grenades on “Al-Ishreen Street” in the Karm Al-Zaytoun neighborhood, causing widespread panic and fear among residents, though the attack did not result in any injuries.

Raid on Al-Hayek Village in Rural Homs
Gunmen also raided the village of Al-Hayek in western rural Homs, which is inhabited by a majority of Shiite residents, and opened fire randomly in the village’s streets while chanting sectarian slogans — endangering civilians and spreading fear.

Videos Documenting the Attacks
Yesterday, social media users widely circulated videos showing armed groups firing randomly in civilian neighborhoods.
Other footage showed dozens of heavily armed fighters preparing to attack Alawite-majority neighborhoods. Videos also showed dozens of cars and motorcycles carrying gunmen entering these neighborhoods after incitement calls, reflecting an organized escalation of the attacks.

Curfew Extended in Homs
The transitional government in Syria announced the extension of the curfew in Homs until 5 p.m. today in an attempt to contain the escalation and restore order in the city.

Background of the Events
The attacks on the city’s neighborhoods came in the aftermath of a sectarian-motivated crime, where on Sunday morning a man and his wife from the “Bani Khalid” tribe were killed by gunmen in the town of Zaidal. The perpetrators wrote sectarian phrases at the crime scene, while some parties exploited the murder to ignite sectarian strife, amid the circulation of an image said to show sectarian slogans written with the victims’ blood.

Casualties and Damages
Several neighborhoods in the city witnessed armed attacks following the crime, resulting in the killing of the young man Noufal Al-Abbas and severely injuring his father, in addition to 11 other civilians being wounded.
The attacks targeted 13 neighborhoods and areas within the city: Al-Abbasiyah, Al-Arman, Al-Muhajireen, Al-Zahraa, Al-Nazha, Akrama, Al-Nazihin, Ashira, Zaidal, Karm Al-Zaytoun, Karm Al-Louz, Hayy Al-Wuroud, and Police Housing.
The attackers vandalized several cars and assaulted civilians, and acts of sabotage also targeted shops and civilian property, with some being set on fire.

Local Observers’ Commentary
These developments reflect the clear weakness of the security agencies of the transitional government, whose delayed deployment in the city was seen by observers as indirectly contributing to the widening scope of violations and armed attacks.