Rebuilding Security in New Syria: Week 39

Tracking the spread of new security forces and security incidents in post-Assad Syria from September 1 to September 7

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 saw a significant number of government arrest operations as well as moderate number of crimes across central and western Syria. New specialized Ministry of Interior units were announced as part of security preparations for a major media event in Aleppo. MoI forces also conducted raids in Damascus, Aleppo, and Homs targeting drug and weapons smugglers and regime criminals. MoD units conducted a raid in a rural village in Latakia following the establishment of a new base in the area, though the five detained men were shortly released.

Several robberies were reported across western and central Syria this week, with some already resolved while others, particularly those in rural Alawi areas, may portent a weakening of the security situation. Several sectarian and vigilante killings also occurred, mostly in Hama as usual. However there were two bodies found of Alawi men in rural Jableh this week where it is unclear if they died by suicide or were murdered.