Daraa – Mahjoub al-Hashish

Random gunfire during celebrations or tribal disputes poses a serious threat to residents’ lives in Daraa province (southern Syria), at times resulting in casualties.

The danger has even crossed the border into the Jordanian town of al-Turra, adjacent to the Syrian town of Tel Shihab, where a young man was recently killed by stray bullets fired from the Syrian side.

Despite a Syrian government decision banning the use of firearms at public events and gatherings, random gunfire continues in Daraa, particularly among youth.

Victims in Daraa

Some residents avoid attending social events such as weddings or exam result celebrations, which are supposed to be joyous occasions, because of the danger of stray bullets.

Mohammed al-Hashish, a resident of Tel Shihab, told Enab Baladi that he no longer participates in friends’ and relatives’ celebrations due to the prevalence of random gunfire.

He added that those who fire weapons are often teenagers aged 15 to 20 with no experience handling firearms. “Some even fire one-handed, without considering that a malfunction could kill or injure others,” he said.

The sound of gunfire itself, he noted, creates fear among children and women, turning into a phenomenon that disturbs most residents.

On August 31, Zakwan al-Abazid, a young man from Daraa al-Balad, was killed while sitting on the roof of his home as celebratory gunfire accompanied high school exam results. He was found dead by a family member after a stray bullet pierced his body.

The same day, a girl under ten was killed in the village of Namer (eastern Daraa countryside) by a stray bullet fired during celebrations. A child was also injured in the city of Tafas (western Daraa countryside) on August 7 during middle school exam result celebrations.

Sheikh Faisal al-Abazid, a relative of Zakwan, told Enab Baladi that the province is living through “a state of security chaos” requiring both government and community efforts to curb the practice.

Meanwhile, Ahmad al-Mahamid, a community leader in Daraa al-Balad, held internal security forces responsible, saying they had failed to take adequate measures. He urged the Syrian government to enforce laws that criminalize random gunfire and to impose strict penalties on offenders.

He argued that residents are less deterred by social appeals than by legal consequences such as prison terms, weapon confiscation, and paying blood money to victims’ families.

Al-Turra, Jordan

The danger has extended into neighboring Jordan. In al-Turra, a town adjacent to Tel Shihab, Mohammad Hijazi was killed instantly by a stray bullet from the Syrian side while sitting outside his home.

Retired teacher Ahmad al-Janaydeh, a resident of al-Turra, told Enab Baladi that most people in the town’s northern neighborhoods face “constant danger” from stray bullets fired across the border, whether during weddings, exam result celebrations, or clashes between border guards and smugglers.

He said that on the day Hijazi was killed, a celebration in Tel Shihab included nearly ten hours of continuous gunfire. In a previous incident, al-Janaydeh recalled, the wife of a friend was shot in the shoulder while sitting on her balcony, requiring surgery that left her with partial disability in her arm.

Al-Janaydeh urged tribal and religious leaders and intellectuals in Daraa to take responsibility by discouraging gunfire at celebrations and imposing social sanctions such as boycotting offenders. He added that the ultimate responsibility lies with the Syrian state, which should issue directives and enforce penalties to reduce random firearm use.

Tribal disputes

Gunfire in Daraa is not limited to celebrations. Tribal disputes have also endangered civilians. On September 15, three people, including an elderly woman, were injured in the city of Tafas after clashes reignited between rival clans. Internal security forces responded by deploying convoys, imposing an overnight curfew, and moving to contain the violence.

Mohammed al-Hashish explained that such disputes often spill over to harm civilians. “Weapons are fired indiscriminately, and sometimes grenades and RPG launchers are even used,” he said.

He believes the solution lies in disarmament, restricting weapons to state authorities, criminalizing random gunfire, and increasing blood money penalties to force accountability for damage caused.

Campaign to control weapons

Following the rise in deaths and injuries from stray bullets, Daraa’s Internal Security Command announced a campaign on September 6 to control the illegal proliferation of firearms.

According to its statement, carrying weapons in public spaces is banned, as is brandishing or using them at gatherings, celebrations, or in any form of threat or extortion.

The command pledged to take “strict legal measures with no leniency” against violators, in order to safeguard citizens and uphold the rule of law.