IED blast kills former opposition leader in Idlib
IDLIB, Syria (North Press) – A former Syrian opposition leader was killed on Monday when an explosive device planted in his car detonated in the town of Deir Hassan in the north of Idlib, northwestern Syria.
Local sources told North Press that Mohammad Hatem Bakro, known as Abu Hatem, was killed after an explosive device placed in his vehicle detonated in Deir Hassan as he was heading to work.
They added that the device exploded the moment Bakro started the engine, killing him instantly. Security forces quickly cordoned off the area and launched an investigation into the circumstances of the assassination.
According to the sources, Bakro was one of the most prominent local figures in Deir Hassan. He was among the first to take up arms at the beginning of the Syrian war and went on to establish the first local battalion in the region. He also recently held a position within the judicial sector in the city of Aleppo.”
The attack comes amid a rise in assassinations and armed attacks across the Idlib countryside in recent weeks, heightening residents’ concerns about worsening security conditions. Locals have increasingly called for stronger protective measures and tighter control over key roads in the area.
Idlib Governorate has witnessed numerous assassinations and bombings in recent months, targeting military personnel affiliated with the Ministries of Defense and Interior of the Syrian transitional government, as well as civilians in various towns, according to the same sources.