News- Middle East: An influential Shia cleric has been shot dead in central Syria, raising concerns about growing sectarian violence under the controversial rule of Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) militant group over the Arab country.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), a UK-based so-called monitor, reported on Thursday that Sheikh Rasoul Shahoud’s bullet-riddled body was found on Wednesday near Homs.

Armed assailants directly fired on him while he was in his car, near a security checkpoint between the outskirts of Homs and the village of Al-Mazraa, the report said

The village of Al-Mazraa, Shahoud’s hometown, witnessed a wave of fury and anger as residents held a protest on Wednesday evening condemning the killing.

There are allegations of an attempt to cover up the circumstances surrounding the assassination.

The Islamic scholarly council representing Syria's Shia community denounced his "assassination" as a "flagrant attack on the voice of moderation and unity, and a desperate attempt to sow discord".

The statement urged authorities to "shed light on the circumstances of this heinous crime" and to "prosecute its perpetrators and instigators so that they are punished".

Shahud's killing comes after other recent incidents of violence targeting religious minorities, including massacres of Alawites along the country's coast, clashes with the Druze community in the south and a bombing at an Orthodox church in Damascus.

According to several reports, Syrian forces, dominated by the HTS and other militant groups, have continued to carry out sectarian killings, kidnappings, and persecution across Syria, targeting Alawites and other minorities.

The HTS militant group seized control of Damascus on December 8, 2024, culminating a swift offensive that had begun in the northwestern province of Aleppo just two weeks earlier and ultimately brought an end to President Bashar al-Assad’s 24-year rule.

The HTS administration has since been involved in flagrant violations of human rights in Syria, particularly against minorities, drawing widespread condemnations from the international community.

A series of violent clashes also between HTS gunmen and members of a Druze community in Syria earlier left dozens of people dead and raised fears of deadly sectarian violence.

The Druze minority had a history of supporting the Assad government and standing against Israeli occupation and expansionist policies, including in the occupied Golan Heights.

The UK and EU states have been gradually lifting Syria sanctions since the start of this year.

US President Donald Trump recently announced a decision to lift all sanctions against the administration of Syria's self-proclaimed president, Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, in exchange for normalizing ties with Israel.

Jolani has assured the US-led Western countries that Syria will “normalize relations” with Israel, recognize the regime, and exchange ambassadors by the end of 2026.

The HTS-led regime will reportedly hand over the occupied Golan Heights to Israel as part of a looming normalization deal with the illegal entity.

Source: Press TV