Two former pro-government fighters killed in separate attacks in Deir ez-Zor
DEIR EZ-ZOR, Syria (North Press) – Two men affiliated with Syrian government structures and Iran-backed factions in previous years were killed on Sunday in separate attacks carried out by unidentified gunmen in the eastern governorate of Deir ez-Zor, eastern Syria.
A local source told North Press that armed assailants riding a motorcycle stormed a barbershop in the Hamidiyah neighborhood of Deir ez-Zor city and opened fire with a machine gun, killing shop owner Mohammed al-Khalaf instantly.
The source said that al-Khalaf had previously served within the Political Security branch before the fall of the former regime and had later undergone a reconciliation process.
Following the attack, Syrian government security forces cordoned off the area and launched a search operation in an attempt to track down the perpetrators.
In a separate incident in the town of Qita’a al-Bukamal, east of Deir ez-Zor, unidentified gunmen attacked the home of Abdul-Hay al-Hassan, a former member of the Iran-backed Abu al-Fadl al-Abbas Brigade. He, too, was killed immediately.