The patterns of violence in Homs Governorate have shifted throughout July, August, and September. While the Governorate was already reeling from indiscriminate shootings and repeated attacks on civilians, acts of violence of a personal and retaliatory nature began to escalate, although sectarianism remained a common element in both cases. Hardly a day passes without a new incident confirming the fragility of the security situation, amidst a virtual absence of the rule of law and a clear weakness in deterrence and accountability measures.

This report was authored by Seen for Civil Peace in cooperation with the Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression, and aims to monitor and analyze the most prominent patterns of violence recorded in Homs city and its surrounding countryside, as well as the nearby rural areas of neighboring governorates, during July, August, and September 2025. The report includes some incidents in the surrounding countryside due to their impact on the governorate as a result of close social, familial, and sectarian ties, which make the dynamics of violence intertwined and extend across the governorate’s administrative boundaries.

This period was marked by a clear shift in the nature of violence; revenge-driven and personal violence escalated significantly, while violence of a civil or collective nature declined relatively in Homs city. However, the sectarian dimension remained a structural element influential in shaping local tensions and perpetuating a general sense of insecurity. Field observations confirm that these shifts reflect a fragile, temporary adaptation to a turbulent reality still governed by the deep-seated structures of the conflict.

Additionally, the report reveals that the prevailing perception of improved security in Homs does not reflect reality, but rather is closer to a “collective illusion” formed through three interconnected mechanisms:

• Fear, which compels large segments of the population to remain silent and withdrawn, especially since the parties involved in or complicit with the violence still control the targeted areas.
• Desensitization to news of violence, to the point that it has lost its shocking impact.
• The public sphere being preoccupied with other security and political events.

Despite some relative improvement in specific areas, numerous hotspots in the city and its surrounding countryside continue to witness security chaos and repeated violations, following three patterns:

• Random gunfire by armed men on motorcycles, particularly in the neighborhoods of Karm al-Luz, Karm az-Zaytoun, and an-Naziheen quarter—as well as in the rural areas of Homs and Hama, which are predominantly Alawite.
• The deliberate or indiscriminate throwing of bombs to spread terror among the residents and force them to flee.
• Retaliatory attacks reflect weak control mechanisms and a collapse of trust in local authorities.

These indicators suggest that the situation in Homs remains volatile and could erupt at any moment. The shortcomings of security measures and the absence of serious accountability are fostering a fertile environment for the reproduction and normalization of violence and power relations, posing a direct threat to civil peace and the security of civilians.

This report is based on quantitative and qualitative field data collected through a network of local observers and eyewitnesses. Details will be presented in the Methodology section, followed by an in-depth statistical analysis of the documented events during the monitoring period. The aim is to provide an accurate picture of the evolution and trends of violence in Homs Governorate.

With the support of the Crisis and Support Centre, Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs

Avec la participation du Centre de crise et de soutien du Ministère de l’Europe et des Affaires étrangères