New Decision on the "Zeidal Crime" in Syria and a Noteworthy Development in Sahl al-Ghab

Syrian media reported that the Internal Security Command decided to extend the curfew until 5:00 PM on Monday in several neighborhoods of Homs. This follows an announcement by the spokesperson for the Syrian Ministry of Interior, Nour al-Din al-Baba, that there is no material evidence yet to prove that the crime that occurred in the town of Zeidal, rural Homs, on Sunday, is of a "sectarian nature."

1. The "Zeidal Crime": Misdirection and Incitement

• Denial of Sectarian Motive: Al-Baba indicated that initial investigations showed that the sectarian phrases accompanying the crime were written with the intent to misdirect and incite sectarian strife, obscuring the real perpetrator.

• Crime Classification: Al-Baba clarified that the "data available so far indicates that the crime is criminal, with attempts to exploit it to incite sedition."

• Official Warning: Al-Baba stressed that some parties "are trying to exploit the events to spread false narratives... with the aim of destabilizing the civil peace," urging citizens not to follow "misleading news."

2. Tension in Homs and Sahl al-Ghab Development

• Crime Details: The tension began after the shocking murder of a man and his wife from the Bani Khalid tribe in Zeidal, where the wife's body was burned, and sectarian phrases were found at the scene.

• Vengeful Attacks: The incident sparked widespread anger within the tribe, resulting in large retaliatory attacks on predominantly Alawite neighborhoods in Homs, including arson, vandalism, and random shooting, leading to casualties.

• Potential Escalation: Concurrently, the Bani Khalid tribe is setting up a "war tent" in Sahl al-Ghab (Hama countryside), with dozens of armed men gathering, raising fears of expanding violence outside Homs.