Youssef Halim Jouni, 57 years old and a member of the Alawite community, was killed on December 2, 2025, after an armed group opened fire on him while he was standing in front of his real estate office in the village of al-Drouqiyat, which belongs to the al-Bayda subdistrict in northern rural Latakia, Syria.
According to the available information, the armed group directly targeted the victim, leading to his immediate death. The identity of the gunmen remains unknown, and no party has claimed responsibility for the attack.
The crime comes in the context of a series of killings that have targeted individuals from various minorities in the region, amid indications of rising hate speech and increasing cases of sectarian, religious, and ethnic incitement in Syria. These developments coincide with deepening societal division and growing manifestations of violence, especially after Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham extended its control over the country, amid the continued absence of accountability for those inciting and contributing to fueling this climate of hatred, most of whom are close to the interim authority.
This incident reflects the general atmosphere of tension and systematic targeting experienced by members of minority groups, highlighting the dangers of security chaos and the persistence of crimes committed with impunity.
