Iraqi Judiciary Applies ‘Terrorism Provisions’ to Drones

The recent killing of two Syrian soldiers near Manbij, east of Aleppo, underscores persistent security vulnerabilities and a pattern of attacks targeting government forces. The soldiers, part of the 76th Division, were killed by unknown gunmen while riding a motorcycle on June 20. This incident follows numerous similar attacks tracked by Asharq Al-Awsat on Syrian security and army personnel since the fall of the Assad regime. These attacks frequently occur when personnel are commuting to or from their posts, often using motorcycles or irregular transport, suggesting weak protection measures and poor personnel rotation organization. Rural Aleppo has seen several assassinations this year, including the deaths of two army members in March and an Interior Ministry member in April near al-Rai. Similar incidents have been reported across Daraa, Latakia, Hama, and Homs provinces. Major Khaled al-Abdullah, director of the Syrian interior minister’s office, stated that the immediate aim of groups opposing the new administration, including remnants of the Islamic State and the ousted regime, is to "embarrass the Syrian state." He affirmed that authorities are actively working to impose security and eliminate armed groups, making significant progress despite "continued internal and external challenges." Abu Mohammed al-Hussein, overseeing checkpoints in eastern rural Aleppo, described personnel movement as a significant problem, requesting buses for shift changes, especially in remote areas. He recounted a survival incident on the Manbij-al-Bab road in late March, which prompted him to issue special orders for his personnel's movement.

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try to embarrass the Syrian state.