Finding a secret prison for the detention of civilians in the northern countryside of Homs

Syrian internal security forces discovered an underground secret prison in an agricultural area near the village of Abu Hakfa in the northeastern countryside of Homs, which was used for the detention of civilians.

A security official confirmed that operations to comb the area are ongoing, amid expectations of finding additional mass graves, pointing out that all those involved in these crimes will be pursued legally. The Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) quoted the security official in the eastern countryside of Homs, Marwan Sultan, as saying: "The discovered site resembles an underground cave unfit for living, and was exploited for the abduction of women, men, and children for financial and political gains."

For his part, Fawaz Balloul from the village of Abu Hakfa explained that "the agricultural land where the prison was discovered belongs to a member of the National Defense militia," noting that a "large cave with an iron door and locks was found, which was used for torture and the detention of civilians in exchange for ransom payments." Balloul confirmed that "the area has witnessed repeated abductions at the hands of those militias," saying: "Personally, I was a victim of one of these incidents."

According to the agency, "the village residents are in contact with the relevant authorities to expand search operations for additional evidence that may reveal the extent of the violations that civilians were subjected to during that period."