The Ministry of the Interior’s shift in characterization of the operation—from targeting an ISIS cell to executing arrest warrants for suspects—sparks public questions, amid calls for a transparent investigation and accountability for any violations.
Residents of the town of Rankous in the rural countryside of the Syrian capital, Damascus, today mourned the bodies of the victims of the security operation that the town witnessed at dawn on Thursday. The operation resulted in the deaths of seven people, including two members of the internal security forces and five armed locals, while protests and demands to uncover the truth of what happened continue against the backdrop of conflicting narratives regarding the motives of the operation and accusations targeting the dead of having ties to the “ISIS” organization.
The funeral procession witnessed massive participation from the town’s residents, who carried the bodies on their shoulders amidst an atmosphere of grief and anger, alongside demands to announce the results of the investigations to the public, determine responsibilities, and hold those involved in any potential violations accountable.
The funeral followed a protest sit-in organized by Rankous residents in front of the police station, rejecting the security operation carried out by internal security elements, which—in addition to the death of the seven individuals—led to the arrest of dozens.
A new statement by the Ministry of the Interior regarding the incident raised additional questions about the circumstances of the operation, after clarifying that the security mission aimed to execute summons and arrest warrants against suspects based on intelligence data, and that clashes erupted after the security force came under gunfire immediately upon arriving at the location.
This characterization differs from the initial narrative, which spoke of targeting a cell affiliated with the “ISIS” organization. This prompted locals to demand clarification on the grounds upon which the security authorities relied in leveling accusations against the victims, and to avoid pre-judging before the investigation results emerge.
During the protest sit-in, a number of town residents questioned the official narrative linking the dead to the organization, emphasizing that the individuals who fell during the operation were well-known to the area’s residents.
One of the speakers during the protest stated that the security authorities could have summoned the wanted individuals through local mukhtars or the local Shura council, rather than storming homes and opening fire, while others stressed that “they are not from the organization,” demanding the disclosure of evidence before launching such characterizations.
Circulated video footage also showed demands to reveal the evidence relied upon by the security authorities, amidst assurances from residents that some of the victims had been living normally and moving around routinely within the town.
INT Platform Reports a Prior Dispute Behind the Raid
In a separate narrative, the INT platform cited sources from inside Rankous indicating that the security raid stemmed from a dispute between the former Hayat Tahrir al-Sham commander known as Abu Malik al-Tallai, and young men who were part of an opposition faction led by defected Captain Firas al-Bitar.
According to the sources cited by the platform, the dispute prompted al-Tallai to summon the internal security forces after accusing the young men of belonging to the “ISIS” organization.
The platform noted that al-Tallai—whose real name is Jamal Zainiya, originally from the city of Al-Tall—was responsible for the abduction of the Maaloula nuns in 2013, pointing out that he released them after receiving a hefty ransom.
For its part, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights considered that the shift from the narrative of targeting a “Islamic State” cell to talking about executing summons and arrest warrants against suspects reflects a clear retreat in the official rhetoric, following the popular protests and criticism that accompanied the operation.
The Observatory stressed the necessity of fully publishing the results of the investigations and the evidence relied upon by the security authorities, and conducting a transparent, independent investigation to uncover the circumstances of the deaths of the seven individuals, examine the announced accusations, and determine responsibilities for any potential violations.
Note: This text is translated from the original Arabic version… Read the Arabic version:Click here
