On Friday, July 4, 2025, Amer Amoun was killed and his brother Behes was wounded. Both were from the village of Al-Burjan in the countryside of Latakia Governorate. They were shot by a member of the Ministry of Defense of the transitional government while they were on farmland near their village. It should be noted that the area is under the control of the transitional government.
According to information obtained by the Syrian Network for Human Rights from reliable local sources, the two young men were picking grape leaves on farmland near the bridge in the village of Al-Burjan when a member of the Ministry of Defense stationed at a military checkpoint near the site opened fire on them, killing Amer and injuring his brother Behes, without any apparent reason for doing so.
The incident was followed by a protest demonstration by the village residents. Meanwhile, internal security forces from the Ministry of Interior of the transitional government arrived, met with the residents, and arrested those involved for investigation. They also withdrew all Ministry of Defense checkpoint personnel and replaced them with internal security forces.
Legal Conclusions
• The opening of fire by a member of the Syrian Ministry of Defense on two unarmed civilians while they were on farmland, without any direct threat, constitutes a grave violation of the right to life.
• The absence of any direct threat from Amer Amoun to the military forces in the area and the use of lethal force in an uncontrolled manner make the incident an extrajudicial, summary, or arbitrary killing, as defined by the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial executions.
• According to the United Nations Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials (1990), lethal force should only be used when strictly necessary and for the purpose of protecting life. Firing shots in an open area is unlawful and outside the scope of legal controls.
• Since the security forces are affiliated with the transitional government, responsibility for this violation lies with the security, military, and administrative authorities, both in terms of direct action and in terms of the lack of control and oversight of the conduct of forces in the field.
• The shooting of Behes Amoun constitutes a violation of Article 9 of the Covenant, which guarantees the security and physical integrity of individuals, and imposes on the authorities the duty to prevent such attacks and hold the perpetrators accountable.
Recommendations of the Syrian Network for Human Rights:
• Open an urgent and independent criminal investigation, including gathering evidence, questioning those involved in the security operation, and determining individual responsibilities, in preparation for criminal accountability in accordance with fair trial standards.
• Prosecute all those involved in the shooting, administratively and legally, and announce the results of the investigation to the public to promote transparency and accountability.
• Compensate the victim’s family financially and morally, and provide urgent psychological and social support, given the family’s role as a vulnerable component in a fragile security environment.
• Restructure and train Ministry of Defense personnel, including training in human rights standards, rules of engagement, and zero tolerance for indiscriminate shooting or excessive use of force.
• Launch an early warning system to avoid civilian presence in security operation areas, through advance community outreach and coordination with local leaders.