Rebuilding Security in New Syria: Year 2, Week 12

Tracking the spread of new security forces and security incidents in post-Assad Syria from February 23 to March 1

Announcements of security deployments mostly in western Syria, with an emphasis on the minority regions. 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 are provided throughout.

• Northeast

• Aleppo and Idlib

• Damascus

• Coast

• Homs

• Hama

This week saw near daily violent incident in Homs city, a continuation of escalating violence in the city throughout February. Killings and attacks against security forces were concentrated in and around Akrama neighborhood, but extended north to Zahraa and Abbasiyah. Violence included attacks against minorities and security forces.

This year’s trends of protests across the country continued, with a series of protests in Arab town in the northeast against the reintroduction of SDF forces, protests in Raqqa against the People’s Assembly selection process, and protest and violence in Palmyra due to tensions over a lack of transitional justice.

The week began with a major security operation in the coast, the first one since January, targeting the same belt of villages in the southeast Jableh countryside where ex-Assad insurgents remain active. One civilian was killed in the raid, along with one security member and three insurgents, including two commanders.

Meanwhile, ISIS attacks increased in the northeast, all in the same manner as previously conducted against SDF positions prior to the government’s takeover. Counter-ISIS campaigns ramped up in the response, with several arrests made in Deir Ez Zor.