News Center — The city of Homs and its western countryside experienced an atmosphere of security tension and sectarian strain, amid public fears of a repeat of what previously occurred in the coastal region and Sweida. Tension escalated in an unprecedented way following a series of attacks carried out by armed groups targeting the city’s neighborhoods, increasing fear and panic among the residents.

Najat Rochdi, the Deputy UN Special Envoy for Syria, expressed her deep concern regarding the recent developments in Homs, confirming in a statement issued yesterday that she is closely following the reports related to the attacks targeting civilians and their property. She warned that the continuation of these events without urgent action may lead to further security deterioration in the city.

Hours after the armed groups attacked unarmed civilians—opening random fire at residents, burning homes, and destroying commercial shops—neighborhoods of Homs with an Alawite majority are witnessing cautious calm after a full curfew was imposed in the city in an attempt to control the situation and prevent an escalation of attacks. However, fears remain of violations and crimes against unarmed civilians, especially with continued incitement calls urging participation in acts of violence.

This security escalation came following a horrific murder in the town of Zaidal, south of Homs, where a man and his wife from the Bani Khalid tribe were found killed inside their home. The wife’s body had been burned, and the perpetrators left behind phrases of a sectarian nature, increasing tension and strain in the area.