Former Syrian Diplomat Killed as Death Toll from Violence Surges Beyond 1,300

A former Syrian diplomat, Noureddine al-Labbad, was killed in his home by armed attackers as violence in Syria escalates, raising the civilian death toll above 1,300. Interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa has initiated a fact-finding committee to hold perpetrators accountable. Witnesses report widespread targeted killings, exacerbating the already volatile security situation in the region.

A former Syrian diplomat, Noureddine al-Labbad, was fatally shot by armed men in his residence in Al-Sanamayn, located approximately 50 kilometers south of Damascus. The assailants attacked his home on Tuesday night, resulting in the deaths of both him and his brother. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that Labbad had only recently returned to Syria from France, where he served for the opposition after defecting from the Assad regime’s foreign ministry in 2013.

In the aftermath of the attack, security forces imposed a curfew in Al-Sanamayn, leading to a temporary halt of violence, including cars being set ablaze and grenades detonating. By the following morning, the curfew was lifted, and normal traffic resumed. Disturbing videos circulated on Telegram, depicting armed individuals entering Labbad’s domicile. Reports indicate that such attacks are part of a broader trend of tribal violence and revenge killings since the fall of Bashar al-Assad in December.

Simultaneously, civil unrest has culminated in the deaths of at least 1,383 civilians, primarily Alawites, in a surrounding wave of violence on Syria’s Mediterranean coast. The Observatory revealed that a majority of these individuals were victims of executions carried out by security forces and associated groups. The situation continues to evolve with more bodies being discovered, particularly in the coastal provinces of Latakia, Tartus, and Hama.

Amid these tumultuous events, Interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa has established a fact-finding committee to hold accountable those responsible for the violence against civilians. The European Union has expressed its support for this initiative, demanding that the perpetrators face justice. In a statement, the EU condemned assaults executed by pro-Assad militias and decried the horrific crimes against non-combatants.

Witness testimonies reveal the scale of the violence, with reports of complete families being executed based on their sect—Alawite or Sunni. The UN human rights office reported that whole families, including women and children, were targeted, with testimonies of men being shot in front of their loved ones. Survivors have described a climate of terror, with some towns grappling with the aftermath of multiple civilian casualties.

Human Rights Watch has indicated that no single group can be definitively blamed for the killings, as multiple unidentified armed factions carried out these actions. Notably, fighters from various regions across Syria participated, including Syrian groups resisting the new authorities in Damascus and militias with ties to foreign nations. This highlights a complex interplay of local and foreign influences as violence continues to escalate in the area.

The assassination of Noureddine al-Labbad reflects the increasing violence in Syria, where over 1,300 civilians have lost their lives in recent unrest. With interim officials vowing accountability and external entities urging justice, the situation remains precarious. The rampant violence, particularly targeting Alawites, delineates the ongoing brutality following Assad’s ousting, necessitating urgent international attention and intervention to stabilize the region.

Original Source: www.abc.net.au