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.
This week saw three killings across Hama governorate, which has witnessed the most sustained violence in Syria in recent months. A second murder in just 48 hours in the al-Ghab plains came at the start of the week, linked to ongoing housing disputes and seizures. Two vigilante killings occurred later in northern and eastern Hama. As usual, any vigilante killings of Alawis are widely circulated on social media with the victims portrayed as civilians.
Suspected ISIS attacks also continued this week, including a rare IED attack near Damascus’ al-Tal. This same area has seen infrequent kidnappings and executions of Alawi taxi drivers, potentially linking ISIS cells to those past killings.
This week also marked the official dissolution of the SDF. As a result, the ISC formally entered Kobani and deployed new vehicles and uniforms for an array of departments. These departments appear to be mostly or fully staffed by former Asayish members.