Local official critically injured by gunfire in southern Syria

By Betul Yilmaz

ISTANBUL (AA) – A local Syrian official was seriously injured by gunfire in the southern city of Daraa on Monday, state media said.

The state-run Al-Ikhbariyya TV said Muneef al-Zaim, a member of the Public Relations Office of the Daraa Provincial Council, was hospitalized after being shot by unidentified gunmen in the city.

No information was yet available about the identity of the assailants.

Daraa has been the scene of increasing Israeli military activity, including air and ground attacks, in violation of Syria’s sovereignty.

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