News Center — Security tensions and violations targeting various components and sects are escalating in several Syrian cities located in areas under the control of the jihadist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, amid clear violations and assaults on the rights of Syrian components.

Local sources told the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights that the events witnessed in the predominantly Christian city of Al-Suqaylabiyah on the evening of Friday, March 27, began when two strangers entered Al-Mashwar Street in the city and harassed a number of girls. This prompted young men from the area to intervene, and the situation developed into a violent scuffle, during which one of the assailants brandished a grenade, threatening those present before fleeing with his companion.

The sources indicated that "the two individuals later returned accompanied by General Security patrols and pointed out a number of the town's young men, who were then detained by security forces. This angered residents and increased the intensity of the violence and heightened the state of tension in the city."