Syrian mayor and son gunned down hours after security forces enter suburb PHOTO

The mayor of Sahnaya, a town in the suburbs of Damascus, and his son were shot and killed just hours after security forces from Syria’s Defence and Interior Ministries entered the area.

As reported by Syria.tv, the Public Security Directorate has launched an investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident, per Caliber.Az.

According to the agency, Mayor Hussam Warour and his son were shot by unknown individuals.

Only a day prior to the attack, Mayor Warour had appeared in a video from Sahnaya, where he discussed the local security situation. In the footage, he publicly called for peace and welcomed the arrival of the security forces in the town.

According to local media reports, a preliminary ceasefire agreement had been reached on the evening of April 30 in the areas of Jaramana and Ashrafiyat Sahnaya, both located in the Damascus suburbs. The agreement was reportedly achieved in the presence of the governors of Rif Dimashq, As-Suwayda, and Quneitra provinces, as well as several high-ranking officials and public figures.

A report from Syrian government officials referenced in the coverage described the presence of “criminal gangs” who had attacked members of the public security forces. These attacks reportedly resulted in the deaths of 35 individuals in Ashrafiyat Sahnaya. The report also emphasised the need to control and regulate the circulation of weapons in both Ashrafiyat and Sahnaya.

By Tamilla Hasanova