In an incident reflecting the escalation of targeting civilians on religious grounds in Syria, within a broader context of gross human rights violations affecting multiple regions of the country, Mohammad Hafiz al-Ali and Youssef Mohammad al-Ali—two civilians from the Alawite sect—were killed on April 2, 2026. They were killed by an armed group while working their agricultural land located north of Al-Bayyid village, which is administratively part of the Umm al-Tuyour municipality in the western countryside of Hama.
According to available information, the two victims were engaged in agricultural labor in the area when the attack occurred. There have been no indicators of their involvement in any military activities, which further classifies the incident as a violation targeting civilians.
This incident occurs within a rising pattern of violence and violations targeting civilians in Syria based on religious and ethnic backgrounds, including members of minority groups. This raises serious concerns regarding the expansion of systematic targeting and the prevailing absence of accountability.
On April 1, 2026, Fatir Ratib Hamdan, from the village of Al-Hadatha in the Homs countryside and a member of the Alawite sect, passed away due to injuries resulting from torture during a detention period that lasted approximately one year and two months. His death occurred days after he was released in critical medical condition.
In a separate incident, the body of Husam Ahmad Badour (41 years old), also from the Alawite sect, was discovered on March 29, 2026, in the Wadi al-Sayeh neighborhood of Homs city. He had sustained a gunshot wound to the head and was found one day after disappearing while on his way to work.
Additionally, Fadi Halloun, a Christian civilian, was critically injured on March 29, 2026, during an armed robbery targeting a money transfer office in the city of Safita, Tartus countryside.
These facts indicate an alarming escalation in the frequency of gross human rights violations, including extrajudicial killings, torture, and armed assaults against civilians. Amidst the ongoing climate of impunity, urgent action is required to ensure the protection of civilians and to hold those responsible for these crimes accountable.
