Rights Monitor Syria has documented the killing of civilian Mustafa Habib Akhras, aged 63, a member of the Alawite community, after being subjected to direct gunfire carried out by unidentified armed men riding a motorcycle on the morning of July 17, 2026, in Al-Kharsan village, in the eastern countryside of Hama. According to available information, the attack occurred in front of the victim’s shop, located near a security checkpoint inside the village, leading to his immediate death.
According to the documented information, unidentified gunmen opened fire on Mustafa Habib Akhras while he was in front of his shop before fleeing the scene. No information has been received regarding the arrest of any suspects or the announcement of the results of an official investigation into the incident as of the time of writing this report.
This incident occurs in the context of ongoing reports documenting killings targeting civilians in several Syrian regions, including individuals belonging to religious and sectarian minorities. This raises growing concerns regarding the protection of civilians, ensuring non-impunity, and the fulfillment of the authorities’ obligations to conduct independent, impartial, and effective investigations into such violations.
Rights Monitor Syria emphasizes that the targeting of civilians constitutes a grave violation of international human rights law, and the provisions of international humanitarian law where applicable. It calls for the opening of an independent and transparent investigation into the killing of Mustafa Habib Akhras, to uncover the circumstances of the crime, identify those responsible, and hold them accountable, thereby guaranteeing the right of the victim and his family to justice and redress, and enhancing the protection of civilians from the recurrence of such violations.
