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Celebrations over Basic Education Exam Results Turn into Tragedy: 9 Injured by Stray Bullets
Celebrations held by families to mark the release of the Basic Education Certificate results turned into tragic incidents after some participants fired live ammunition into the air as an expression of joy. The gunfire injured civilians in the provinces of Daraa and Hasakah, renewing warnings about the dangers of random shooting during celebrations and social occasions.
In the town of Nawa, in western rural Daraa, a civilian was injured by a stray bullet on Tuesday evening amid celebrations marking the announcement of the results. The town witnessed the firing of fireworks alongside live ammunition into the air, apparently in an attempt to mask the sound of the gunfire amid the festivities. One civilian was injured as a result.
In the town of Inkhil, in northern rural Daraa, a young man was struck by a stray bullet in the back during the same celebrations. He was subsequently taken to the hospital in the city of Jassem for treatment.
A woman in the city of Hasakah was also shot in the shoulder after random gunfire was directed into the air to celebrate the release of the Basic Education results. The incident occurred in the Al-Mahatta neighbourhood, amid widespread anger among residents, as an occasion that was supposed to be a source of joy turned into a threat to civilians’ lives.
These incidents came hours after the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights documented six people being injured by stray bullets in several parts of Syria during celebrations marking the announcement of the Basic Education Certificate results. This brought the documented number of injuries to nine people in less than 24 hours, according to the available data.
The Observatory said that the recurrence of such incidents reflects the continued perception of gunfire as a means of expressing joy, despite the serious dangers posed by stray bullets. Such bullets can reach homes, streets and civilian gatherings indiscriminately, turning moments of celebration into tragedies.
According to documentation by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, 119 people have been killed since the beginning of 2026 by stray bullets or as a result of the improper use of weapons and grenades in the hands of civilians. They include:
- 77 men
- 37 children
- 5 women
A further 130 people were injured, distributed as follows:
Areas under the Transitional Government
- **103 people killed**, including:
- 70 men
- 30 children
- 3 women
- **105 people injured**, including:
- 72 men
- 23 children
- 10 women
### Areas under the Autonomous Administration
- **16 people killed**, including:
- 7 men
- 7 children
- 2 women
- **25 people injured**, including:
- 16 men
- 4 children
- 5 women
The Observatory renewed its call for the relevant authorities to impose deterrent measures against those who fire weapons, prohibit the use of firearms during celebrations and intensify public awareness campaigns. It stressed the need to curb a phenomenon that has come to associate celebrations with gunfire, turning occasions marking success and joy into recurring scenes of injuries and fatalities.
