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Curfew Extended in Homs After Double Killing Triggers Sectarian Fears

The government extended a curfew in parts of Homs after a weekend double killing sparked fears of sectarian unrest. Authorities say sectarian markings at the scene may have been planted to provoke divisions, while witnesses reported retaliatory attacks by members of the Bani Khalid tribe. Security forces detained about 120 people and were deployed across Homs and nearby Zaidal. The incident tests President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s interim government in a city long known for its mixed population and history of communal tensions.

03:31 AM, 11/25/2025Conflict
Curfew Extended in Homs After Double Killing Triggers Sectarian Fears

Authorities extended a wide-ranging curfew across parts of western Homs after a weekend double killing that raised fears of sectarian violence in the city.

The restrictions, first imposed on Sunday evening and kept in place through Monday night, covered several districts including predominantly Alawite neighborhoods as well as adjacent mixed and Sunni-majority areas. Officials said the curfew was intended to protect civilians while security operations continued.

What happened

Security forces responded after a married couple, members of a well-known Bedouin tribe, were found dead in their home south of Homs. Markings with sectarian slogans were discovered at the scene, but the Interior Ministry said investigators had not found evidence that the killings were motivated by sectarianism and suggested the markings may have been planted "to mislead investigators and incite strife."

The couple's deaths prompted retaliatory attacks by armed men from the Bani Khalid tribe, who moved through Alawite-majority and mixed neighborhoods. Witnesses reported that properties and vehicles were set alight and shots were fired into the air. No fatalities were confirmed in the subsequent unrest, but residents described widespread fear as violence spread.

Security response and arrests

Security forces deployed rapidly across Homs and into nearby Zaidal. Major General Murhaf al-Naasan, head of internal security for the province, said the killings "appear to have the goal of fuelling sectarian divisions and undermining stability in the region." Homs police chief Colonel Bilal al-Aswad later cautioned against drawing quick sectarian conclusions.

Interior Ministry spokesperson Nour al-Din al-Baba said about 120 people suspected of involvement in the unrest had been detained; authorities gave no immediate breakdown of the detainees or further operational details.

Wider context

Observers say the episode is an early test for the interim government of President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who came to power after a rebel offensive removed longtime leader Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. Homs has a long history as a diverse city and has frequently been a flashpoint for communal tensions, including during the 2011 uprising.

Authorities are urging calm and promising thorough investigations as security forces work to restore normalcy.

The situation remains tense and fluid; local residents said they were anxious about further reprisals as investigations continue.

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Curfew Extended in Homs After Double Killing Triggers Sectarian Fears - CRBC News