Lawyer Haitham Al-Dahoul, a member of the Ismaili community originally from the city of Salamiyah in the Hama countryside, was subjected to an armed attack perpetrated by unidentified individuals at noon on Monday, May 25, 2026. The incident occurred in front of his residence in the Eastern Dummar neighborhood of the Syrian capital, Damascus, resulting in severe injuries.
According to local sources, two masked gunmen riding a motorcycle opened direct fire at Al-Dahoul before fleeing the scene. The attack inflicted grave injuries upon him, necessitating his urgent evacuation to a hospital in Damascus. He was immediately admitted to the operating theater and remains, as of the drafting of this report, in the intensive care unit (ICU) in critical condition.
This incident occurs within the context of a series of security breaches targeting individuals originally from the city of Salamiyah residing in the Eastern Dummar neighborhood. Previously, Madin Zaynou—also a native of Salamiyah—was killed after being subjected to direct gunfire in front of his home in the same area. This was preceded by the abduction of his nephew, Joseph Zaynou, a university student, from a shop where he was employed in Eastern Dummar; no verified information regarding his fate has emerged to date.
“Rights Monitor Syria” has documented the circulation of posts on social media platforms by accounts affiliated with the Interim Authority. These posts leveled accusations against lawyer Haitham Al-Dahoul, labeling him a “Shabiha” (thug)—in reference to his prior ties to the Syrian regime. This coincides with a surge in incitement and treason-baiting discourse targeting certain figures from religious minorities.
These facts raise escalating concerns regarding the rise of violations related to the right to life and personal security, particularly against members of minority groups, amidst the ongoing security vacuum, the absence of effective accountability mechanisms, and the inadequacy of measures ensuring civilian protection in areas under the control of the Interim Authority.
These incidents underscore the urgent need to conduct independent and transparent investigations into homicides, assassination attempts, and cases of enforced disappearance, and to ensure that perpetrators do not enjoy impunity, in accordance with international human rights law obligations.
