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Victims of Retaliatory Acts: A Murder Incident Shocks Baghdad Street in Damascus
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High statistics of civilian victims due to different affiliations indicate the continuing repercussions of the Syrian conflict and its impact on the country's social fabric
A horrific crime occurred in the Baghdad Street neighborhood of Damascus, when an unidentified person shot a citizen who was accompanying his wife while shopping for Eid clothes for their children. This tragic incident adds a new episode to the ongoing violence witnessed in Syrian cities recently.
According to available details, the attacker aimed his weapon directly at the victim's head, causing a serious injury as the bullet penetrated the head and exited from the other side. This method of execution raises questions about the possibility that the operation was pre-planned rather than random.
The victim breathed his last on Saturday evening, just before Eid al-Fitr, amid an atmosphere of grief and resentment among residents. This incident coincided with families' preparations to celebrate Eid, which doubled the impact of the tragedy on the local community.
Information indicates that the background of the assault is related to accusations against the victim regarding his previous work in the ranks of the former regime's army and the emergence of old pictures of him. The victim's relatives demanded an impartial investigation and accountability for those involved in the incident. This incident reflects the continuing cycle of violence related to settling scores from previous stages of the conflict.
The number of victims of retaliatory acts and liquidations since the beginning of 2025 in various Syrian governorates has reached 477 people, distributed as follows: 462 men, 8 women, and 7 children. These figures reveal the scale of the phenomenon and its spread throughout the country.
The capital Damascus recorded 12 cases, all men, with no cases recorded on a sectarian background. The capital remains relatively more stable compared to other governorates despite sporadic incidents.
The toll in Rural Damascus reached 51 victims, including 50 men and one woman, with 4 cases recorded on sectarian grounds. These statistics indicate a variation in the motives for violence between different regions.
Homs governorate topped the list of victims with 168 cases, distributed among 161 men, 4 women, and 3 children, including 55 cases on a sectarian background. This high number reflects the specificity of the situation in Homs and the complexities of its social landscape.
Hama governorate witnessed 98 victims, including 96 men, one woman, and one child, with 38 cases recorded for sectarian motives. These figures highlight the continued influence of sectarian factors in some Syrian governorates.
Latakia recorded 35 victims, including 32 men, one woman, and two children, with 18 cases on a sectarian background. This data shows a disparity in the motives for violence between coastal areas and others.
The toll in Aleppo governorate reached 20 victims, all men, with no cases recorded for sectarian motives. These figures reflect the different nature of conflicts between different regions.
Tartous recorded 56 victims, including 54 men, one woman, and one child, with 36 cases motivated by sectarianism. These statistics highlight that coastal governorates are witnessing a high percentage of violence with a sectarian background.
The toll in Idlib governorate reached 11 victims, all men, with no cases recorded on a sectarian background. This relatively low number reflects a varying security situation between governorates.
Sweida recorded two victims, both men, one of them motivated by sectarianism. This governorate remains the least affected by the phenomenon of retaliatory violence compared to other governorates.
Daraa witnessed 20 victims, all men, and Deir ez-Zor 4 victims, all men as well. These statistics reflect the continuing repercussions of years of conflict on Syrian society with its various components.
