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Maaloula.. Unrest, security chaos and arrests sweep through the Christian town
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The escalation of theft incidents and arrests in Maaloula reveals Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham's failure to provide security for religious minorities in areas under its control
Security chaos has intensified in the Christian town of Maaloula in rural Damascus, following an armed confrontation that resulted in the death of an individual who attempted to seize a private farm.
Events escalated when a masked person stormed a private farm, claiming ownership, before opening fire on its owners, forcing them to defend themselves, which led to his death. The defender later turned himself in to the judiciary branch.
The attacker's funeral procession sparked a wave of tension and anxiety among residents, especially with the spread of threats of retaliatory actions, prompting Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham to impose a temporary curfew in the town.
HTS elements began a campaign of raids and arrests targeting citizens under the pretext of their previous connection with the regime, including local officials and well-known figures, while residents recounted details of doors being smashed and homes being violently stormed to arrest wanted individuals.
Residents' complaints of rampant theft and attacks escalated, including the looting of the farm where the killing took place, amid clear inability to identify the perpetrators, prompting many families to leave the town fearing deteriorating conditions.
These developments coincided with the spread of social media narratives about the organized displacement of Maaloula's Christians, claims denied by some residents who confirmed that the exodus stems from fear of security deterioration and potential clashes.
Town residents are seeking to communicate with Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham to control the situation and prevent security breakdown, demanding immediate steps to protect the region's stability and prevent the exploitation of the situation to ignite sectarian strife.
These events fall within a wave of crimes that has swept Syrian governorates since the regime's fall, reaching 83 crimes that claimed the lives of 140 people, including 133 men, 4 women, and 3 children.
Levant-Agencies
