What is being called "security chaos" is increasingly spreading in Syria, with fears it will worsen and threaten neighboring countries due to the lack of a strong central authority to maintain control.

Reports indicate that this "security chaos" has re-emerged in several cities, with numerous videos showing arrests, kidnappings, and even killings, as confirmed by Rami Abdul Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Abdul Rahman told "Al-Hura" the American-based Arabic network that Syrians are living under conditions reminiscent of the days of Bashar al-Assad, with crimes repeating in different forms, despite the Syrian government's claims of "individual mistakes."

He noted that armed factions in various cities are carrying out targeted killings against dozens of individuals for various reasons, primarily targeting former military personnel or those accused of supporting the previous regime, and even people from specific sects.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) - the respected and independent Syria group has recorded at least 189 deaths since the beginning of the year across several cities, including five women.

Abdul Rahman highlighted that most of these "revenge crimes" are executed through killings, where armed men in military attire storm homes, detain civilians, and their bodies are discovered days later.

On Friday, armed individuals stormed a village in western Homs, executing 15 people on the spot, with over 50 others detained and at risk of execution.

The UN called on the new Syrian government in mid-January to protect civilians, treat those who laid down their arms humanely, and preserve evidence of crimes to aid future prosecutions.

RISE IN KIDNAPPINGS

In addition to murders, there have been numerous reports of professors and doctors being kidnapped from universities in various cities, with their bodies often found days later.

Abdul Rahman pointed to the chaos, saying the new government in Damascus describes these incidents as isolated cases, yet this does not negate the existence of arbitrary arrests under its supervision.

Recently, a professor, Rasha Nasr al-Ali, was kidnapped in Homs, and reports of her body being found with severed fingers were denied.

The Internal Security Department in Homs confirmed that the search for Rasha is ongoing, dismissing claims of her murder as "rumors."

The Arab Writers Union issued a statement urging security and military services in Homs to assist in finding the Arabic language professor, Rasha.

She is not alone; a doctor was abducted from his clinic in Damascus by armed men claiming to belong to the Tahrir al-Sham militia, which led the military campaign that toppled Assad’s regime.

A few days ago, the deputy dean of the pharmacy faculty at the private Al-Sham University, Sultan al-Salahdi, was kidnapped by armed men but released hours later, revealing that the complaint was false.

The war in Syria, which began in March 2011 following the brutal suppression of peaceful protests against Assad, has resulted in over half a million deaths, forced millions to seek refuge or displacement, and devastated the country's infrastructure.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees reports that more than 200,000 refugees have returned to Syria since Assad's fall.

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE?

Regarding the factions committing these crimes, SOHR's director explains that some are armed groups not linked to Tahrir al-Sham, which have recently appeared in many cities.

Many believe these factions emerged from armed subgroups conducting "revenge operations" targeting former soldiers or anyone associated with the Alawite or Shiite sects, even detaining and eliminating those they suspect supported Assad's regime, often without evidence.

Abdul Rahman fears that "revenge and killings will become a hallmark of the current phase," with what he calls "taking justice into their own hands" spreading in certain cities.

He stated that some individuals are organizing armed factions to intimidate others, as the security chaos continues, with factions affiliated with the government engaged in arrests, resulting in thousands detained in Syrian cities.

After nearly 14 years of brutal war in Syria, where all crimes and atrocities have occurred, there are calls to bring perpetrators to justice, whether it be Bashar al-Assad himself or those responsible for violations.

Syrian artist Mazen al-Natour criticized the practices documented in video clips of the arrest of members of the ousted regime accused of violations against Syrians, calling for their prosecution according to the law.

He said, "Let us be kind to the criminals; we will not be like the previous offenders," referring to the ousted Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, whose regime was notorious for severe torture in prisons.

CONCLUSION

The expectation is that security chaos will continue to spread throughout Syria, primarily due to the central government's weakness and inability to impose control across the country. This lack of security personnel to protect citizens may lead to local gangs taking over, potentially resulting in a new version of "Somalia" at its worst.

There are concerns that this security chaos may also spill over beyond Syria's borders, and Israel must remain vigilant regarding developments in its border areas with this chaotic state.

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