On Wednesday, July 9, 2025, three civilians were killed and a fourth was arrested during two separate security operations carried out by members of the Internal Security Forces affiliated with the Ministry of Interior of the transitional government in the vicinity of the city of Al-Qardaha in the countryside of Latakia province. These operations come amid a state of high security alert in the region, coinciding with efforts to control fires raging in nearby forests.
According to information obtained by the Syrian Network for Human Rights from reliable local sources, the first incident took place in the Ruwayset al-Basatna area near the city of Qardaha, where a security patrol opened fire on a motorcycle ridden by Haidar Hasan Asaad and Samer Nofal Saeed after they failed to comply with orders to stop, killing them both.
The second incident occurred in the same area, where a motorcycle carrying two other young men was shot at during a similar chase, killing Ismail Barbar and arresting Rifaat Khair Bek, whose fate remains unknown at the time of publication.
Legal conclusions:
- Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights stipulates the right to life and emphasizes its protection from arbitrary deprivation.
- The United Nations Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms (1990) emphasize the need for a graduated use of force and that firearms should only be used in cases of extreme necessity and for the purpose of protecting life.
- In such contexts, security work requires a balance between ensuring public safety and protecting lives, including those of suspects, and this is part of the commitment to the human rights system in the performance of security tasks.
Recommendations of the Syrian Network for Human Rights:
- Open a professional and independent investigation into the two incidents to determine their circumstances accurately and ensure that they are not repeated.
- Ensure the safety of detainee Rifaat Khair Bek and allow his family to communicate with him and be informed of his legal status.
- Strengthen the capabilities of the security agencies in the areas of field operations management, control of the use of force, and training on rules of engagement in accordance with human rights standards.
- Engage in effective community outreach with residents of areas undergoing security operations and inform them of measures to reduce risks to them.
- Provide psychological and social support to the families of victims, as they are directly affected by the incident.
