Monitor Group Reports Summary Executions in Homs Amidst New Government’s Security Sweep

Fighters aligned with Syria’s newly established Islamist leadership have reportedly executed 35 individuals over a period of 72 hours, primarily targeting former officers of the Assad regime, Al Jazeera reported citing the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The executions occurred as the rebel forces, which deposed longtime president Bashar Assad last month, conducted a series of arrests in the western Homs region for alleged “violations.”

State news agency SANA reported that authorities accused members of a “criminal group” of abusing residents while masquerading as security personnel. The Observatory noted that many of those executed had previously presented themselves at centers established by the new authorities.

In addition to the executions, the Observatory highlighted severe abuses, including mass arbitrary arrests and attacks on religious symbols, particularly affecting members of the Alawite minority, to which Assad belongs. These actions are seen as reprisals fueled by the chaos following the regime’s fall.

Civil Peace Group, a local civil society organization, condemned the violence, stating that unarmed civilians were among the victims during the security operations. Despite assurances from the new authorities regarding the protection of minority rights, fears of retaliation among Alawites persist as the situation remains volatile.