Syria: Widespread Security Deployment in Homs Following Violence in the City

Syrian Transitional Government forces intensified their deployment on Sunday across several neighborhoods in the city of Homs, following a wave of violence that erupted in recent hours and resulted in casualties, according to local sources.

The sources said that units from the army and internal security forces were heavily deployed in the al-Basil suburb and the al-Muhajireen neighborhood, in an attempt to contain the tension that followed attacks carried out by armed men from the Bani Khalid tribe. The attacks included the burning of homes, vandalizing of shops, and random gunfire.

The escalation comes after a murder that took place in the town of Zaidal, south of Homs, where a man and his wife—both belonging to the Bani Khalid tribe—were found killed inside their home. The “Syrian Observatory for Human Rights” reported that the wife’s body had been burned and sectarian phrases were found at the scene.

The incident sparked widespread anger within the tribe, leading to attacks targeting predominantly Alawite neighborhoods in Homs, amid an absence of security during the first hours of the events.

Eyewitnesses said that fear spread among residents, especially as the attacks coincided with students leaving schools. They added that security forces later intervened to restrict student movement in some areas for safety.

According to Syrian media, the number of vigilante killings and extrajudicial murders in Syria since the beginning of 2025 has risen to more than 1,150 people across various provinces.