Rebuilding Security in New Syria: Year 2, Week 9

Tracking the spread of new security forces and security incidents in post-Assad Syria from February 2 to February 8

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, two likely sectarian-motivated attacks were conducted by unknown gunmen in Homs City and Talkalakh, the first such attacks in many weeks. Security forces continued to arrest drug networks and criminal cells involved in robbery and the MoI expanded its presence across parts of the SDF-controlled northeast, holding several meetings with SDF officials throughout the week. Meanwhile, it appears the government launched a new arrest campaign, detaining at least seven former military doctors from Tishreen Military Hospital this week in Damascus, Homs, and Tartous.

This was also the second week in a row which saw Syrians in different parts of the country holding protests for specific issues impacting them. Sunni and Alawi teachers protested new decisions by their ministries and the ongoing dismissals of municipal employees, Arabs across the northeast staged demonstrations against SDF crimes, and security members from Deir Ez Zor held a demonstration against the government’s release of local regime-era criminals.