HOMS (Dispatches) – The United Nations expressed concern over rising tensions in Syria’s Homs province following the murder of a couple in the town of Zaidel. 
Reports suggest the killing, which included sectarian slogans and the wife’s body being burned, has sparked fears of further violence in the region.
Najat Rochdi, UN Deputy Special Envoy for Syria, issued a statement on social media saying she was closely monitoring the situation and called for calm. 
“I am closely following worrying developments in Homs, including reports of attacks against civilians and property,” Rochdi said. ‘
The couple, identified as Sunni Arab Bedouins, were found dead in their home south of Homs, with reports indicating that sectarian messages were left at the scene. The Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) interior ministry confirmed the incident and said additional security forces were deployed to Zaidel and surrounding areas to restore order.
The incident follows a series of killings and violent acts in the area, including the deaths of two young Alawite men, which have raised concerns about the potential for a sectarian conflict. 
According to Rami Abdulrahman, head of the so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), HTS-affiliated groups are allegedly attempting to displace Alawites from the region.
The province of Homs, which has a diverse population of Sunni and Shia Muslims, Alawites, and Christians, has long been a focal point of Syria’s war. The recent developments underscore the fragile security situation under HTS control, despite the group’s attempts to present itself as a governing authority.
Local reports indicate that HTS, which toppled the Assad government in December 2024, has not taken visible action in response to the recent sectarian killings, exacerbating fears of further instability.
Takfiri terrorists affiliated to the group and its own forces, instead, have actively participated in sectarian killing of Druze, Alawite and Shia minorities. 
The UN has called for the protection of civilians, upholding the rule of law, and accountability for any perpetrators of violence in the region.