Iraqi Imam Assassinated in Syria’s Idlib Countryside by Unknown Gunmen
Iraqi imam assassinated in Syria's Idlib by motorcycle gunmen—latest in string of targeted killings. No group claims responsibility as security deteriorates in northwest Syria. Similar attacks on Iraqi nationals reported in recent months.
By Ahora Qadi
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – An Iraqi national serving as the imam of a mosque in the village of Kaftin in Syria’s Idlib province was assassinated by unknown gunmen, local sources reported on Saturday. The attack is the latest in a string of targeted killings in the area, heightening concerns over the deteriorating security situation in northwest Syria.
According to information obtained by activists from the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), the victim was shot dead in front of his home by assailants riding a motorcycle. The perpetrators fled the scene immediately, and their identities remain unknown.
Pattern of targeted killings in Idlib
The killing comes just weeks after a similar incident on June 8, in which “Abu Aisha al-Iraqi,” also an Iraqi national, was gunned down in the village of Azmarin in western Idlib by two unidentified men on a motorcycle. No group has claimed responsibility for that assassination either.
In March, “Abu Khalid al-Iraqi al-Samarrai,” another Iraqi national, was also assassinated in rural Idlib. He had previously been affiliated with a local faction but had reportedly withdrawn from military activity prior to his death.
Security void fuels wave of assassinations
The string of killings, particularly targeting Iraqi nationals, has raised questions about the fragmented security landscape in Idlib and the motives behind the assassinations. Local observers say the repeated use of motorcycles and lack of claims of responsibility point to coordinated, targeted operations.
While the identity and affiliation of the latest victim have not been disclosed, reports indicate that he was a former member of a local armed group, having since retired from military engagement.
Authorities in the area have yet to issue an official statement regarding the incident. Investigations remain ongoing amid heightened alert over potential future attacks in the region.
