BEIRUT: A former Syrian Arab Republic diplomat who defected from his service under the administration of toppled president Bashar Assad was shot dead alongside his brother in the country’s south, a war monitor said on Wednesday.
Armed men on Tuesday night entered the home of former diplomat, Noureddine Al-Labbad, in the town of Al-Sanamayn, some 50 kilometers (30 miles) south of Damascus, opening fire on him and his brother before fleeing, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.
The Britain-based monitor said Labbad had returned to Syria two weeks earlier from France, where he had represented the opposition’s Syrian National Coalition after having served as a diplomat under Assad.
He had defected from the foreign ministry service in 2013.
Security forces declared a curfew in the town after cars were set alight and grenades were set off following the attack, an AFP journalist said.
But by the morning it had been lifted with traffic gradually resuming.
Videos shared on Telegram by Syrian security forces show gunmen entering what was described as Labbad’s home.
No further details were available regarding the killing of the former diplomat, but there have been frequent incidents involving tribal violence or acts of revenge in the past months, particularly since Assad’s ouster in December.
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Dissident former diplomat shot dead in southern Syria: monitor
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Dissident former diplomat shot dead in southern Syria: monitor
- Armed men on Tuesday night entered the home of former diplomat, Noureddine Al-Labbad, in the town of Al-Sanamayn, opening fire on him and his brother
- The Britain-based monitor said Labbad had returned to Syria two weeks earlier from France
Israeli forces kill three Palestinians in Gaza, local authorities say
- The Israeli military had no immediate comment on the reported incidents
CAIRO: Israeli forces shot and killed at least three Palestinians in separate incidents in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis on Sunday, local health authorities said.
Medics reported that the dead included a 15-year-old boy, a fisherman killed outside areas still occupied by Israel in the enclave, and a third man who was shot and killed east of the city in areas under Israeli control.
The Israeli military had no immediate comment on the reported incidents.
Israel has carried out repeated air strikes since a ceasefire took effect in October, saying they are aimed at preventing attacks or destroying militant infrastructure.
Gaza’s health ministry says 420 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire began, while militants have killed three Israeli soldiers.
Israel and Hamas have traded blame for violations of the ceasefire agreement brokered under US President Donald Trump.
Israel retained control of 53 percent of Gaza under the first phase of Trump’s plan, which involved the release of hostages held by militants in Gaza and of Palestinians detained by Israel.
The final hostage remains to be handed over are those of an Israeli police officer killed on October 7, 2023 — the day Gazan militants invaded Israel, killing 1,200 and taking some 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.
Israel’s military assault on Gaza has killed more than 71,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza health ministry, and led to accusations of genocide and war crimes that Israel denies.
Medics reported that the dead included a 15-year-old boy, a fisherman killed outside areas still occupied by Israel in the enclave, and a third man who was shot and killed east of the city in areas under Israeli control.
The Israeli military had no immediate comment on the reported incidents.
Israel has carried out repeated air strikes since a ceasefire took effect in October, saying they are aimed at preventing attacks or destroying militant infrastructure.
Gaza’s health ministry says 420 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire began, while militants have killed three Israeli soldiers.
Israel and Hamas have traded blame for violations of the ceasefire agreement brokered under US President Donald Trump.
Israel retained control of 53 percent of Gaza under the first phase of Trump’s plan, which involved the release of hostages held by militants in Gaza and of Palestinians detained by Israel.
The final hostage remains to be handed over are those of an Israeli police officer killed on October 7, 2023 — the day Gazan militants invaded Israel, killing 1,200 and taking some 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.
Israel’s military assault on Gaza has killed more than 71,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza health ministry, and led to accusations of genocide and war crimes that Israel denies.
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