Outrage in Syria Over Return of Alleged Informant in American Journalist’s Killing
Protests have erupted across Syria over the return of Khaled al-Fares, a man accused of war crimes under the rule of Syrian President Bashar Assad. As reported by Rizik Alabi for The Media Line, activists and human rights groups are demanding al-Fares’ prosecution, citing his alleged involvement in tracking American journalist Marie Colvin, leading to her targeted assassination in 2012.
Al-Fares, who fled Syria after the fall of the Assad regime, recently arrived in Damascus from Dubai. His return and the reopening of his car dealership in Homs have triggered widespread outrage. Documents obtained by The Media Line suggest that al-Fares was a key operative in a spy network for the former regime and a member of the pro-Assad National Defense Forces. Testimonies from defected regime members reportedly link him to Colvin’s death.
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Colvin, a celebrated foreign correspondent for The Sunday Times, was killed alongside French photographer Rémi Ochlik in a targeted artillery strike in Homs on February 22, 2012. A 2019 US court ruling confirmed that the Syrian government had deliberately targeted her position. Al-Fares is also accused of drug smuggling and involvement in civilian massacres, including the 2011 Homs Clock Tower massacre.
Syrian activists, including Najm al-Din al-Najm and Tamer Turkmani, have condemned the government’s silence, warning that impunity for figures like al-Fares hinders justice for war crimes. As protests continue, it remains uncertain whether Syria’s government will take action. Read Rizik Alabi’s full report on The Media Line for a deeper look into the controversy.
