Young man Wasim al-Ashqar, a member of the Alawite sect, was killed after being shot in the head by unidentified armed assailants in the al-Sabeel neighborhood of Homs, western Syria, on 12 February 2026. Following the killing, his vehicle was stolen and the perpetrators fled the scene.
According to information collected from multiple corroborating sources, armed individuals riding a motorcycle opened fire on Wasim al-Ashqar in the al-Sabeel neighborhood, resulting in his immediate death due to a gunshot wound to the head.
Sources further reported that, after carrying out the attack, the assailants threw his body into the street, stole his car, and escaped. Their identities remain unknown at the time of writing.
“Rights Monitor” documented social media posts containing hate speech following the announcement of Wasim al-Ashqar’s killing. Alawite activists also circulated a post attributed to an individual identified by the initials (T–J), who is alleged to reside in Sweden, originally from Homs, and described as a supporter of the interim authority “Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham.” According to what was circulated, the post included a prior threat against Wasim. At the time of publication, no independent verification has confirmed the authenticity of the account or its connection to the crime.
The killing of Wasim al-Ashqar occurred within the context of a series of similar incidents reported in Homs in recent days. On 9 February 2026, Ali Mohammad Rabeeh, a member of the Alawite sect and a resident of the Old Akrama neighborhood in Homs, left his home and subsequently lost contact with his family the same day. On the morning of 10 February 2026, his body was found at al-Walid Hospital in the al-Waer neighborhood of Homs. It was determined that he had been killed by multiple gunshot wounds.
On the evening of 10 February 2026, the predominantly Alawite al-Zahraa neighborhood in Homs witnessed an armed attack carried out by a group that reportedly came from the Deir Baalbah neighborhood. According to available information, the group targeted a street vendor’s cart inside the neighborhood, resulting in the injury of Hassan Hamdan Azdsheer al-Sarem.
Additionally, on 6 February 2026, Amer al-Youssef, also a member of the Alawite sect, was killed after being directly shot by unidentified armed assailants in the predominantly Alawite Akrama neighborhood of Homs.
Field information indicates an escalation in incidents of killing, targeting, and arrest of civilians belonging to the Alawite sect, as well as civilians from other sects and minority groups, amid deteriorating security conditions and ongoing impunity.
Available evidence suggests that the killing of Wasim al-Ashqar does not appear to be an isolated incident, but rather forms part of a deteriorating security and human rights context in Homs, characterized by repeated sectarian-motivated targeting and the absence of effective accountability.
The continuation of such incidents without independent and transparent investigations, and without holding those responsible accountable, entrenches a climate of fear and undermines the guarantees of the right to life and personal security as protected under international human rights law. These developments call for urgent action by the relevant authorities to ensure the protection of civilians, halt violations, and bring perpetrators to justice.
