Unknown gunmen kill head of municipality in Syria’s Daraa
DARAA, Syria (North Press) – Unidentified gunmen assassinated on Thursday the head of a municipality in the countryside of Daraa, southern Syria.
A local source told North Press that Khaled Abdullah al-Rifai, the head of municipality of the village of Atman in the north of Daraa, was shot in front of his house by two unidentified gunmen on a motorcycle.
Daraa has recently experienced a surge in violence, with increased killings targeting both the government forces and former members of local opposition factions, reflecting the ongoing insecurity in the region.
The source added that al-Rifai sustained critical injuries and was rushed to the National Hospital in Daraa, where he died shortly after arrival.
His death marks the 19th assassination of local council leaders since the Syrian government forces regained control of the area in 2018.
In July 2018, the opposition armed factions and the government forces reached a ceasefire agreement mediated by Russia in the opposition-held areas in Daraa.
Under the deal, the opposition armed factions agreed to hand over their weapons in exchange for staying in Daraa, and those who opposed the agreement they were sent to Idlib, which is under the control of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS – formerly al-Nusra Front).