A deadly clash has erupted in Syria’s Tartus province, leaving at least 14 people dead. Security forces were attempting to arrest an officer linked to notorious Saydnaya prison, a site infamous for extrajudicial executions and human rights abuses. The officer, Mohammed Kanjo Hassan, was accused of issuing death sentences and arbitrary judgments against thousands of prisoners.
The clashes began after residents refused to allow their homes to be searched, prompting an ambush by armed men who intercepted the security forces. Dozens of people were arrested in the village.
The Saydnaya complex is a legacy of atrocities committed during the conflict, with tens of thousands of prisoners and missing persons still unaccounted for. The incident highlights ongoing tensions between Syria’s new leadership and remnants of the Assad regime.
Source: https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20241225-deadly-clashes-in-assad-stronghold-as-loyalists-defend-former-regime-personnel