Documentation of the Killing of Mohammad Ali Al-Jurdi, a Citizen of the Alawite Sect, During a Security Raid in Salhab City, Western Countryside of Hama
This report documents the killing of a citizen, Mohammad Ali Al-Jurdi, a member of the Alawite sect, following a raid conducted by personnel belonging to the “General Security” in the city of Salhab, located in the Sahl al-Ghab area in the western countryside of Hama, at midnight on June 17, 2026, according to cross-referenced local information and testimonies.
According to the gathered information, General Security personnel carried out a campaign of raids and arrests in a neighborhood of Salhab city, targeting a number of young men. During the operation, the personnel proceeded to the home of citizen Mohammad Ali Al-Jurdi with the intent of searching for his wanted brother, whom the family stated was outside the country, in Lebanon.
Received testimonies indicate that a verbal altercation ensued between Al-Jurdi and the patrol personnel after they were informed of his brother’s whereabouts. This altercation included an exchange of insults and derogatory slurs of a sectarian nature, before the personnel opened fire on him, resulting in his immediate death at the scene.
According to available information, Mohammad Ali Al-Jurdi was a civilian working in the field of breeding and training wild animals; no information has emerged to indicate his participation in any combat actions or military activities.
Other testimonies indicate that the raid took place during the night hours and was accompanied by a state of intimidation among the residents, including the women and children inside the house. These testimonies further state that the victim’s body was later handed over to his relatives amid threats against speaking about the circumstances of the incident or holding a funeral service.
Conversely, other sources reported that the raid was part of a security campaign targeting wanted individuals, and that a clash broke out between one of the targeted individuals and the patrol personnel during the execution of the operation, which resulted in his killing and the arrest of other individuals.
This incident occurs within the context of rising concerns over the recurrence of killings and violations targeting civilians from religious and sectarian minorities in Syria in recent months, particularly members of the Alawite sect in the governorates of Hama and Homs, as well as the city of Damascus.
The principles of international human rights law affirm the necessity of protecting civilians from extrajudicial killings, the obligation to conduct independent and transparent investigations into all deaths resulting from the use of force by security authorities, the accountability of those responsible for any potential violations, and the guarantee of the right of victims and their families to access justice, truth, and redress.
