Rebuilding Security in New Syria: Week 16

Tracking the spread of new security forces and security incidents in post-Assad Syria from March 24 to March 30

Announcements of security deployments mostly in western Syria, with an emphasis on the minority regions. Content is categorized as deployment, crime, statement, arrest, operation. This weekly update is intended to provide base level data for more holistic research into the rebuilding of the security and governance structures of post-Assad Syria. Direct links to primary sources provided throughout.

• Damascus

• Coast

• Homs

• Hama

Arrests of regime-era security forces continue, though with some more notable local-level officials being arrested this week. Raids and negotiated hand-overs of weapons also continues on a daily basis across Homs, Hama, Latakia and Tartous with a notable seizure of dozens of (likely Russian-made) drones in Qardaha, giving a glimpse into the extent of arms held by pro-Assad insurgents.

However state violence against civilians continues at a low rate as well. In Homs city, an Alawite family was murdered by a local father and son who had volunteered with General Security and had been using this new position to threaten Alawites in their neighborhood. In Talkalakh, two security force members were killed in what was first described as an insurgent attack but which now appears to have been a case of in-fighting. One of the killed men is believed to have been trying to expose several corrupt local officials working with ex-regime security forces and smugglers in the area. Multiple officials have been arrested, joining a growing number of detained security members. However it remains to be seen what accountability these men will actually face.