DAMASCUS, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Syrian security forces killed Fawzi Layla, a former pro-Assad militant, and arrested several of his associates following overnight clashes in the capital Damascus, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported on Tuesday.
The Britain-based watchdog group said heavy clashes erupted late Monday night in the neighborhoods of Qaboun and Tishreen, where Layla and his group engaged in fierce fighting with security forces.
Layla was identified by the watchdog group as a former member of the Arab National Guard, a paramilitary group that supported the previous government.
The battle, which involved light and medium weaponry, also resulted in the killing of one security officer and injuries to two others.
Security forces have since intensified their presence in the area, with ambulances deployed in response to the confrontation.
The incident underscores the continuing instability in Syria's capital, even as the country undergoes a transitional period following the fall of the previous government in December 2024.
The Syrian interim authorities have been cracking down on remnants of the former government, with numerous violations have been reported by the watchdog group. ■
