Special to WorldTribune.com

NICOSIA — Sunni rebels have been assassinating Syrians deemed
supporters of the regime of President Bashar Assad.

The opposition has acknowledged that rebels were searching and targeting
civilians identified as key supporters of Assad. They said the
assassinations began in late 2011 and accelerated in 2012.

“These are people who support a bloodthirsty regime that has been
killing civilians every day,” an opposition source said.

In 2012, the sources said, more than 25 suspected Assad supporters were assassinated by Sunni rebels. They said this did not include Syrian soldiers and police abducted and later executed.

On May 14, the Assad regime reported the latest assassination of a
supporter. The casualty was identified as Abdul Aziz Al Hafl, a tribal
leader in the northern region of Dir Al Zour near the border with Turkey.

The sources said the opposition has sought to sever the link between
Syria’s leading tribes and Assad. They said Al Hafl and other targets had been warned to disassociate from the regime.

The latest assassination took place amid one of the bloodiest battles in
the Sunni revolt, which began in March 2011. On May 14, at least 23 soldiers
were killed by Sunni rebels in the central city of Rastan, which came under
heavy Army shelling.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights asserted that Sunni fighters
destroyed three Syrian Army armored personnel carriers. The London-based
opposition group said rebels also captured two APCs as well as 15 soldiers.

  Abdul Aziz Al Hafl, Bashar Assad, central city of Rastan, Sunni rebels, Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Syrian rebel assassins targeting top supporters of Assad