Clashes in Syria’s Tartus Province Leave 17 Dead Surrounded by Arrest Attempt of Former Assad Regime Officer

At least 17 people were killed in violent clashes in Syria’s Tartus province on Wednesday following an attempt by security forces to arrest a former officer linked to the notorious Saydnaya prison, known for its brutal repression and human rights abuses. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, 14 members of the General Security force were killed, along with three armed men, in the village of Khirbet al-Maaza.

The officer, identified as Mohammed Kanjo Hassan, previously served as the director of military justice and field court chief under the deposed regime of Bashar al-Assad. He is accused of overseeing death sentences and arbitrary judgments against thousands of prisoners, many of whom were held at the infamous Saydnaya prison, a symbol of Assad’s brutal crackdown on opposition.

Clashes erupted after local residents resisted a search of their homes and the officer’s brother, along with armed men, ambushed the security forces. The attack resulted in the deaths of security personnel and the arrest of dozens of villagers.

The violence comes amid the collapse of Assad’s regime, following its ousting by Islamist rebels earlier this month. The war, which has raged for over a decade, has left more than 500,000 people dead and tens of thousands of prisoners and missing persons.