Residents of Damsarkho in the Latakia countryside were shaken this week after the body of Dr. Muhammad Adnan Samkari, 82, was found in a local orchard. Samkari, an Interior Ministry doctor known for his community service, was kidnapped April 29 by an armed group demanding $100,000.
Nouruddin Brimo, media relations official in Latakia, said investigations are ongoing to apprehend those responsible. The killing sparked anger in Latakia, where kidnappings and armed robberies have become increasingly common. Just last month, police foiled an abduction attempt in Beit Yashout and dismantled a gang of robbers in the province.
Jableh also witnessed a spike in robberies. Thieves posing as Internal Security officers stormed a gold shop in daylight, stealing four kilograms of gold, according to owner Ayman Farran. Local residents voiced frustration over the lack of patrols, lamenting “robberies have become increasingly prevalent in recent days.”
Arrests of Former Regime Figures and Massacre Suspects
Authorities announced the arrest of two former regime officers, Col. Yael Hassan and Wajih Ibrahim, accused of war crimes in Homs countryside. The Internal Security Command in Latakia confirmed their transfer to judicial authorities. Separately, the alleged murderers of five in the August 19 “Mishqita massacre,” were arrested. Officials said dozens of fugitives accused of crimes during the war have been caught in recent months.
Assassination in Aleppo
In northern Syria, former Ahrar al-Sham commander Alauddin Ayoub, known as “Al-Farouq Abu Bakr,” was killed August 17 in Azaz when gunmen on a motorcycle opened fire on his car near the University of Aleppo. Interior Ministry spokesman Nouruddin al-Baba said the perpetrator later surrendered and confessed, citing revenge as the motive. Deputy Interior Minister Abdelkader Tahan condemned the killing as “heinous” and vowed accountability. Abu Bakr, was once a prominent figure in Aleppo’s revolutionary factions.
Controversy Over Death in Damascus Mosque
The death of 32-year-old Yusuf al-Labbad after his arrest inside Damascus’ Umayyad Mosque last month drew controversy. His family alleged torture, but Prosecutor General Hussam Khattab said Labbad died from hypoxic brain injury caused by a seizure linked to amphetamines, antidepressants, and psychological stress, confirmed by forensic tests.
He added that minor bruises or injuries were excluded as causes, the case was closed and referred to the judiciary. Interior Ministry spokesman Baba insisted that security forces had “no connection” to the death, pledging transparency and accountability.
Drug Smuggling Thwarted at Lebanese Border
Meanwhile, the General Authority of Land and Sea Ports said it foiled an attempt to smuggle narcotics through the Arida crossing from Lebanon. Authorities in Daraa also intercepted a large Captagon shipment last week. The Interior Ministry reported earlier seizures of millions of pills and large quantities of hashish in Damascus countryside and Daraa. Officials say intensified operations aim to curb the smuggling networks that proliferated under the former regime.
