In the framework of monitoring human rights violations in Syria, local and civil sources have documented a series of arbitrary arrests and security violations targeting civilians from the Alawite sect in the countrysides of Homs and Latakia during April 2026, amid a notable escalation in the frequency of these incidents.
Western Homs Countryside: Four Civilians Detained During a Raiding Campaign
Civil sources reported that personnel from the General Security conducted a raiding campaign on April 15, 2026, in villages within the Talkalakh countryside, west of Homs. The campaign included the villages of Sindiyana, Barouha, Al-Shumaisa, and adjacent areas, involving the intimidation of residents and the arrest of four men from the Alawite sect.
According to documented information, the detainees include:
Abdel Karim Khaddour, an agricultural tractor repairman.
Abdel Latif Khaddour, his brother, working in the same field.
Nazih Hamdi, a shepherd.
Suleiman Makhlouf, from the village of Edlin, a construction worker.
Sources confirmed that the detainees are of limited income and work in manual trades, noting that the charges leveled against them “lack any legal basis,” according to descriptions provided by local residents.
Furthermore, local accounts indicated that these operations were accompanied by pressures and practices aimed—per resident testimony—at financial extortion through the fabrication of cases and complaints, in the total absence of legal safeguards.
Residents pointed out that these incidents are no longer isolated but have formed a recurring pattern that threatens the livelihood and social security of the local population, heightening the state of fear and instability.
Qardaha City: Night Raid and Arrest of Two Young Men Following Gunfire
In a related context, the city of Qardaha in the Latakia Governorate witnessed another security incident. At approximately 3:00 AM on April 16, 2026, a group of General Security personnel stormed the Beit Al-Khazam neighborhood.
According to received information, the personnel opened fire on the feet of a young man, Haidar Khazam, before arresting him along with Maher Khalifa.
No confirmed information has been made available regarding the legal grounds for the arrest or the health status of the injured youth, amidst a complete absence of official clarification.
These events, as documented by local sources, reflect an escalation in patterns of arbitrary detention and violations linked to security procedures targeting civilians. This includes the use of excessive force, nocturnal raids, and the absence of clear legal foundations for arrest, raising serious concerns regarding the human rights situation and the rule of law in these regions.
