Two defense ministry personnel killed in armed attack in Idlib
IDLIB, Syria (North Press) – An official in Maarat al-Numan city, south of Idlib, told North Press on Tuesday that two members of the Ministry of Defense were killed on Monday after unidentified gunmen opened fire on their motorcycle along the road between the towns of Maarat Harma and al-Habit in the southern countryside of Idlib.
“Unknown assailants targeted a motorcycle carrying two personnel from a military unit affiliated with the Ministry of Defense,” the official, member of the General Security forces of Syria’s caretaker government, said. “The attack took place as they were traveling from Idlib city to their military post in Hama.”
He confirmed that both individuals were killed in the attack and that security forces immediately cordoned off the area in an effort to track down the perpetrators.
The security official suggested that remnants of the former regime might be responsible for the attack, particularly in response to the ongoing security campaign launched by security forces across several villages and towns in Idlib to apprehend and pursue them.
He further noted that this was the second attack of its kind in the Idlib countryside within the past 48 hours. In a separate incident, a government vehicle came under fire from unidentified gunmen, resulting in two injuries, one of whom remains in critical condition.
On Monday, a security source told North Press that the General Security forces had arrested 12 individuals in a security operation in Idlib countryside on suspicion of collaborating with the Assad regime.