ALWAGHT- A UK-based war monitor reports that Syria's new rulers have detained nearly 300 individuals in a sweeping crackdown on supporters of President Bashar al-Assad after his government collapsed earlier this month.
Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), reported on Sunday that the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) administration has initiated a widespread arrest campaign targeting Assad loyalists.
"Nearly 300 individuals have been detained within a week in Damascus and its suburbs, as well as in Homs, Hama, Tartus, Latakia, and even Deir Ezzor," Abdel Rahman stated. Among those arrested were former informants, pro-government fighters, ex-soldiers, and lower-ranking military officers.
He also highlighted that the campaign is ongoing but noted, "No prominent figures have been detained, except for General Mohammed Kanjo Hassan, a military justice official accused of issuing death sentences for prisoners at Sednaya jail."
Syria's state news agency SANA confirmed arrests in Hama and Latakia provinces, where weapons and ammunition were seized, but did not provide specific figures.
The crackdown follows HTS militants’ surprising offensive from their northwestern Syria stronghold, culminating in the capture of Damascus on December 8 and marking the end of President Bashar al-Assad's rule. HTS has pledged to uphold the rights of all sects and religions, though the situation remains precarious.
Sectarian tensions and political instability persist, raising concerns over potential clashes and pressures on minority groups in the fragile post-Assad landscape.
.jpg "Shahid Jihad Mughniyeh Funeral")
