Top Syrian cleric killed by armed group in Aleppo
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An armed group forced Sheikh Mohammad al-Hajj Barakat out of his car and shot him 20 times.
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Men, one smoking a hookah, sit outside a shop in the town of Tel Rifaat in the Aleppo region of northern Syria, Tuesday, January 28, 2025 (AP)
Sheikh Mohammad al-Hajj Barakat, director of the Sharia Secondary School in the city of al-Safira in southern Aleppo countryside, was assassinated, according to Al Mayadeen correspondent.
The reporter said that an armed group cut off Sheikh Barakat and his son near the village of al-Waha, forcing him out of his car and shooting him more than 20 times, with bullets striking his head and chest.
Sheikh Barakat, a graduate of al-Azhar University, was widely known for his moderate approach and unifying discourse.
Truce agreement reached in Daraa
Meanwhile, in Daraa, local sources told Syria’s Sham TV that a truce agreement was reached between the leadership of the al-Awda Groups and the new administration in Syria following intense regional pressure aimed at preventing the situation from escalating into violence.
As part of the agreement, the General Security forces withdrew from tense areas in Daraa countryside, and one security officer was handed over to the judiciary after he had opened fire during recent tensions.
This move is seen as part of broader efforts to contain unrest and promote stability in southern Syria, with the local population closely monitoring the implementation of the agreement's terms on the ground.
Soaring tensions
Earlier, the city of Daraa had witnessed significant security unrest and a large deployment of armed elements, following the severe wounding of former "Free Syrian Army" leader Bilal al-Droubi.
He was shot while security forces attempted to arrest him in the city of Busra al-Sham in eastern Daraa countryside. Two others accompanying him were also injured.
A local source told Al Mayadeen that Droubi was previously a senior commander in the "Free Syrian Army" prior to 2018 and had recently applied to join Syria’s Ministry of Defense forces.
Following the incident, Syrian security agencies in Damascus dispatched military reinforcements toward Daraa. However, the convoys were stopped at the Mseifra junction before reaching the city.
Ex-FSA commander shot
A former commander in the Free Syrian Army, Bilal al-Droubi, sustained serious injuries in a shooting in the city of Busra al-Sham in eastern Daraa province, a local source in Syria told Al Mayadeen. The source of the gunfire remains unknown, and reports suggest two others accompanying him were also injured.
According to the source, al-Droubi was affiliated with the Free Syrian Army prior to 2018 and had recently submitted a request to join Syria's Ministry of Defense forces.
The same source added that contrary to media claims, the city did not witness clashes—only a brief incident of gunfire. Following the shooting, security forces were deployed across several streets in Busra al-Sham, and a curfew was imposed.
