Senior Shia Cleric Assassinated in Syria Amid Sectarian Unrest Under HTS Rule
Killing of Sheikh Rasoul Shahoud sparks outrage as militant-backed regime moves toward normalization with Israel
Syria, PUREWILAYAH.COM - A leading Shia cleric, Sheikh Rasoul Shahoud, was shot dead near Homs, central Syria, raising concerns over a surge in sectarian violence under the rule of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), Shahoud’s bullet-riddled body was discovered on Wednesday near a checkpoint between the outskirts of Homs and his hometown of Al-Mazraa. He was ambushed and shot while in his car.
The village erupted in public protest shortly after the assassination, with residents accusing authorities of failing to protect religious minorities and expressing outrage over suspected attempts to cover up the circumstances surrounding the murder.
Syria’s Shia Council Condemns Assassination, Demands Accountability
The Islamic scholarly council representing Syria’s Shia community denounced the killing as:
“A flagrant attack on the voice of moderation and unity, and a desperate attempt to sow discord.”
The council called for authorities to conduct a full investigation, bring the perpetrators to justice, and expose any individuals or factions that instigated the crime.
The killing comes amid a pattern of rising sectarian attacks, including:
Massacres of Alawite civilians along Syria’s coast
Clashes with the Druze community in the south
A deadly church bombing targeting Orthodox Christians in Damascus
HTS-Led Regime Accused of Widespread Human Rights Abuses
Reports from human rights groups and local sources indicate that HTS and affiliated militant groups have been responsible for sectarian killings, kidnappings, and systemic persecution of minorities, including Shias, Alawites, Druze, and Christians.
The HTS seizure of Damascus on December 8, 2024, ended President Bashar al-Assad’s 24-year rule, following a swift offensive from Aleppo. Since then, the HTS administration has engaged in severe human rights violations, drawing international condemnation.
Deadly clashes between HTS militants and Druze communities have claimed dozens of lives, further intensifying fears of a sectarian civil war.
HTS Normalization Deal with Israel Sparks Alarm
The sectarian violence occurs alongside a geopolitical realignment: HTS's self-declared president, Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, has reportedly struck a deal with the U.S. and Israel.
According to diplomatic sources:
All U.S. sanctions on Syria under HTS rule have been lifted
Syria will normalize ties with Israel, exchange ambassadors, and recognize the regime by the end of 2026
The occupied Golan Heights will be formally handed over to Israel as part of the agreement
The deal has been condemned by pro-resistance forces and human rights observers as a betrayal of Syria’s sovereignty and a green light for ethnic cleansing under the guise of normalization. (ARN)