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Tensions in al-Sanamein After Assassination of Former Diplomat; Tribal Warnings Emerge
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The assassination of defector diplomat Nour al-Din al-Labad reflects the escalating violence in Daraa and raises questions about the groups behind the recent security operations in the region
Syrian defector diplomat Nour al-Din al-Labad and his brother Imad al-Labad were killed after unknown gunmen stormed their home in the al-Majbal neighborhood of al-Sanamein, northern Daraa, and shot them at close range.
A local source told RT that three unidentified gunmen entered the brothers' house on the afternoon of Tuesday, March 11, and opened fire before quickly fleeing the scene. The identity of the attackers remains unknown.
The source added that the victims had no personal disputes or local conflicts, stating, "They had no disagreements or enmities with anyone." Investigations are ongoing, with surveillance camera footage being reviewed to identify the perpetrators.
According to Syrian News, the General Security Directorate imposed a curfew in al-Sanamein after clashes occurred in the area in recent days.
Amid rising tensions in al-Sanamein, which recently saw security operations by the General Security Forces supported by units from the Ministry of Defense, the "Al-Himad" tribe issued a strong warning regarding the recent events.
The tribe's statement read: "We are not advocates of war or sedition, and God forbid that we would ever be its sponsors. However, if you insist on sedition, fighting, and shedding our blood, we will have no choice but to confront it."
The tribe emphasized that "any attack on its members or its sanctities will be met with a firm response, and there will be no leniency with any party seeking to ignite chaos." They urged others not to test their patience or drag them into an open tribal conflict.
The tribe also called on local leaders and wise men to intervene and stop the escalating tensions, warning against attempts by certain figures to "ignite sedition" and exploit the security situation. The statement specifically accused Ahmed Shafiq al-Labad of trying to "drag the city into internal conflict at the cost of innocent lives."
Nour al-Din al-Labad had previously served as a minister plenipotentiary in Syria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and worked in several Syrian embassies worldwide, including in Yemen, France, Iraq, Turkey, and Libya. However, he defected from the Syrian regime in 2013 and joined the opposition, where he represented the Syrian Coalition in France.
Al-Labad held a doctorate in French literature, an advanced diploma in translation, and a master's degree in international relations. He hailed from al-Sanamein, where he was born in 1962.
Recently, al-Labad had returned to his hometown after spending years in France, with reports indicating he had planned to return to Paris shortly after his visit, with some sources stating he intended to leave just five days after arriving.
