Syrian defense ministry staffer killed in shooting attack in Aleppo

DAMASCUS/ ISTANBUL

A member of the Syrian Defense Ministry was killed in a shooting attack in the northern city of Aleppo on Saturday, local media reported.

The state-run Alikhbaria TV said he was shot and killed by unidentified gunmen in the Sayf al-Dawla neighborhood of Aleppo.

Security forces cordoned off the area and a criminal investigation was launched into the attack.

There was no claim of responsibility for the attack.

The new Syrian administration is working to tighten security conditions nationwide and to pursue remnants of the former regime accused of stirring security unrest.

Bashar al-Assad, Syria’s leader for nearly 25 years, fled to Russia, ending the Baath Party regime, which had been in power since 1963. A new transitional administration headed by President Ahmad al-Sharaa was formed in January.