Four Syrian security personnel killed by gunmen
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Four members of Syria’s security forces were killed Sunday in a shooting in the northwest province of Idlib, state media reported.
According to the Interior Ministry, the victims were part of the road security department and were attacked while on patrol along the Maaret al-Numan road. A fifth officer was wounded in the assault.
The state-run SANA news agency said gunmen opened fire on the officers, though neither the ministry nor SANA identified the perpetrators.
Idlib had previously served as a stronghold for armed factions, including foreign fighters, before Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) ousted former President Bashar al-Assad last December.
- Regional context -
The attack comes a day after a joint US-Syrian patrol in Palmyra, central Syria, was ambushed, killing two American soldiers and a translator. US President Donald Trump called the incident “an ISIS attack against the US, and Syria, in a very dangerous part of Syria,” and promised “very serious retaliation.”
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani described the Palmyra attack as “a new challenge in the fight against terrorism.” Following the assault, Syrian authorities launched operations targeting Daesh cells across Homs province, where Palmyra is located.
Syria’s new authorities continue efforts to stabilize the country after over a decade of civil war, while a US-led coalition has at times carried out strikes in Idlib, typically targeting Daesh officials.
