Rights Monitor Syria documented the discovery of the body of Samar Fayez Rasouk, a young man belonging to the Alawite community and originally from the village of Beit Yashout, shot to death behind the kiosk where he worked in the village of Ain Al-Tina Al-Gharbiya, affiliated with the Ain Al-Sharqiya sub-district in the countryside of Lattakia Governorate, on July 27, 2026.
According to documented information, the victim’s body was found behind his workplace located on the Ain Al-Sharqiya highway, with no official information released clarifying the circumstances of the crime or the identity of those responsible as of the time of writing this report.
Local sources circulated accounts indicating that security services had previously raided the kiosk where Samar Rasouk worked and searched the premises after finding a photograph of him in his former military uniform holding the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. According to these accounts, security personnel asked him to cooperate with them and provide information regarding local residents; however, he refused, emphasizing his willingness to report only criminal offenses, such as thefts, without engaging in providing information on the local population.
The same accounts further indicate that security personnel repeatedly frequented his workplace following that incident, before he was found killed next to the kiosk where he worked. Sources added that his wife and family members had repeatedly urged him to leave his job at that location out of fear for his safety.
Rights Monitor Syria was unable to independently verify the authenticity of these accounts or the existence of a direct link between the alleged threats and the victim’s murder. Rights Monitor Syria emphasizes that this incident highlights the need for an independent and transparent investigation to uncover the circumstances surrounding the killing of Samar Fayez Rasouk, identify those responsible, and ensure their accountability in accordance with international standards, thereby contributing to combating impunity and safeguarding the right to life.
