Incident Summary
On October 16, 2025, two unidentified gunmen carried out an attack on a barbershop owned by Jalal Thabat (father of young woman Mira) in the village of Al-Mukhtabiya in the Talkalakh area of western Homs countryside, Syria. The assailants, who were riding a motorcycle, threw a hand grenade inside the shop and then opened fire indiscriminately at those inside before fleeing the scene. The attack resulted in the death of two people and the injury of two others, causing panic and chaos in the area.
Detailed Documentation Information
Date: October 16, 2025
Location: Al-Mukhtabiya village, Talkalakh area, western Homs countryside – Syria
Victims:
Killed:
Mohieddin Oweid – from the Sunni community
Mahmoud Qassem – from the Alawite community
Injured:
Jalal Thabat (shop owner, father of Mira Thabat) and his son
Hussein Shweiti
Perpetrators: Two unidentified armed men on a motorcycle
Background on the Case of Mira Thabat
Prior to the attack on the barbershop, the village of Al-Mukhtabiya and social media platforms had witnessed significant controversy over the disappearance of Mira Thabat—a young woman from the Alawite community and the daughter of the barbershop owner.
Sequence of Events:
Initial Reports: News spread that Mira Thabat had been criminally abducted, sparking outrage and protests in her community, along with mutual accusations among local residents.
Unexpected Development: Days later, she first appeared wearing a burqa associated with Afghan tradition, and subsequently appeared in a video denying all abduction claims.
Final Account: In the video, Mira confirmed that she had voluntarily married a young man from the Sunni community with whom she had a romantic relationship, clarifying that her disappearance was related to this marriage and not to any kidnapping.
