White Helmet shot dead in Syria’s Idlib province

By Burak Karacaoglu and Esref Musa

IDLIB, Syria

A member of Syria’s White Helmets civil-defense force was shot dead in Syria’s northwestern Idlib province on Thursday, according to a civil-defense official.

Wael al-Omar, head of the White Helmets’ training office, was killed by an unknown attacker late Wednesday, Moustafa Hajj Yusuf told Anadolu Agency.

“#Civil_Defense has lost another White Helmet volunteer,” the White Helmet’s said on Twitter.

“Omar was killed in Idlib city after being shot to death by an unknown [attacker] north of the city while he was heading to work,” it added.

The White Helmets’ civil-defense center in Idlib was attacked by an unknown group in August, leaving seven members dead.

The White Helmets, officially known as Syria Civil Defense, is a volunteer organization that operates in opposition-held parts of Syria.