An armed group stormed the town of Taldara on Friday evening in the countryside of the Ismaili-majority city of Salamiyah in Hama province, northwestern Syria, uttering sectarian rhetoric. This prompted an immediate security alert, a local source told Zaman al-Wasl.
The attackers, riding motorcycles, stormed the town's Ismaili Islamic Council and directly insulted its leaders, causing tension and resentment among the residents.
General Security forces quickly responded, sending reinforcements to the area, and were able to contain the situation in cooperation with the town's notables. The source noted that "such incidents have occurred in the past individually and were resolved, but this time the attack came from an organized group and directly targeted a religious institution, which increases its danger," the source added.
Ismailis enjoy state protection, but "there is a need for a radical solution to deter these groups that are trying to drag the region into chaos," the source said, emphasizing that "exposing these practices in their early stages helps quell strife and prevent attempts at external exploitation."
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