Sulaymaniyah, February 24, 2026 —The Committee to Protect Journalists calls for a prompt and transparent investigation into the killing of journalist Alaa Mohammed, who was found dead at his home in Syria’s coastal governorate of Lattakia on February 21.
Mohammad, who belonged to the country’s Alawite minority, was initially known as a sports journalist before shifting his focus to political affairs in Syria after the fall of former president Bashar al-Assad. He published daily videos on his YouTube channel covering political, economic and social developments in the country.
In his final video, published just hours before his killing, he discussed recent security incidents, including several instances of killings of civilians by unidentified perpetrators, and said the current government would need considerable time to build what he described as a national army.
“The killing of Alaa Mohammed inside his own home is deeply alarming and raises urgent questions about the safety of journalists in Syria,” said Joud Hassan, CPJ’s Levant program coordinator. “Syrian authorities must conduct a swift, independent, and transparent investigation and ensure that those responsible are held accountable.”
Mohammed’s son, Hassan, told CPJ that his father was alone at his second home in the village of Nini, where he went from the family residence in Jableh city. “He was killed with a sharp object from behind, contrary to the reports that said he was shot,” Hassan said.
“The incident occurred between 8 and 9 p.m. We do not know the full details about who committed the crime. There are some suspects, and the investigation is still ongoing,” he added.
Hassan said there were no personal or family disputes that could have led to the killing. “There may have been ideological or political disagreements with some people, but I cannot accuse anyone or claim that of a specific person. No one saw the perpetrators.”
Violence has flared in Syria’s Lattakia governorate, the homeland of the Alawite minority of which the Assad family belonged to, since the new government came to power in December 2024 after 14 years of a devastating civil war. More than 1,400 people, mostly Alawite civilians, were killed in sectarian clashes in early 2025, with forces loyal to the government accused of launching a wave of revenge killings against supporters of the former leader.
As of publication, authorities had not issued a public statement on the case. CPJ contacted Lattakia governorate police, who said they were not authorised to comment. CPJ also reached out to Nour al-Din Baba, spokesperson for the Ministry of Interior, and Omar Haj Ahmed, director general of press affairs at the Information Ministry, but received no response.
This content originally appeared on Committee to Protect Journalists and was authored by CPJ Staff.