Damascus Countryside – Syrian Observatory for Human Rights:

SOHR sources have reported that a civilian was shot dead by regime forces in Damascus countryside today, as he passed near a checkpoint of the regime’s Republican Guard in the town of Al-Hama, after he refused to stop at the military checkpoint, then he was shot dead directly.

On February 7, reliable sources informed SOHR that the directorate of Kanaker district in western Rif Dimashq issued a decision suspending educational services in the town’s schools over the growing tension and recent dramatic developments in the town, especially after a young man was shot dead by gunmen of the 4^th Division. According to SOHR sources, the victim was a former opposition fighter during the factions’ control of the town, and he had attempted to strike a reconciliation deal with regime security services, but it was rejected.

On the other hand, tense calm prevailed Kanaker town, amid very little civilian movement, while fear is growing among the residents over expected clashes between local gunmen and gunmen with settled-status on one hand, and regime forces stationed in the surrounding areas of the town on the other.

SOHR sources said that dignitaries of Kanaker and the “commission of reconciliations” have transmitted requests to meet with Russian officers in order to defuse the tension, but it is not known yet if these requested were approved or not.

On February 6, SOHR sources confirmed that young people and residents, who had struck reconciliation deals with regime security services in Kanaker town in Rif Dimashq, attacked a checkpoint of the 4^th Division at the town’s entrance with personal weapons.

On the other hand, regime forces brought in military reinforcement to the surrounding areas of Kanaker town in order to repel expected attacks by the town’s residents, after members of the 4^th Division had shot dead a young man from the town in the evening.