Rebuilding Security in New Syria: Week 46

Tracking the spread of new security forces and security incidents in post-Assad Syria from October 20 to October 26

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.

• Aleppo

• Damascus

• Coast

• Homs

• Hama

This week continued to see individual acts of violence across western Syria, with an increasingly apparent role of regime insurgents. Kidnappings, both claimed and faked, have continued to be reported at a higher rate than in past months. This is the second week in a row that people have been freed from kidnappers attempting to move them into Lebanon, while the body of a Sunni man kidnapped two weeks ago was found in rural Jableh. There were also two cases this week of Alawi insurgents killing Alawi civilians in rural Masyaf (one which occurred this week, and one which occurred two weeks ago but whose perpetrator was confirmed and arrested this week).

Meanwhile, armed Sunni civilians continue to conduct sectarian-motivated attacks in the coast and in Homs, though in small numbers. There were two violent incidents this week entwining both HLP and sectarian motivations, one in Damascus and one in Homs. However, unlike previous weeks, there were no documented vigilante killings this week.

Government security forces continue a high rate of arrests targeting kidnapping gangs and regime insurgents, especially in the coast. Latakia governorate also saw two important milestones this week when the ISC announced the start of the process to hand out civilian IDs to ex-soldiers as well as opening an information center for families to inquire about their loved ones in prison.