A precarious calm returned to Syria’s central Homs province on Monday as authorities extended a curfew and heavy security presence following a day of violent unrest triggered by the murder of a couple from a Bedouin tribe in the town of Zaydal.

The Internal Security Command of Homs announced on Telegram that the curfew will remain in place in the south of the province until 5 p.m. local time, affecting the neighborhoods of al-Abbasiya, Armenian, al-Muhajirin, al-Zahraa, Nuzha, Akrama, Nazheen, Ashira, Zaydal, Karm al-Zaytoun, Karm al-Loz, Hay al-Wurud and a police housing area.

What happened: On Sunday, security authorities imposed a curfew from 5 p.m. until 5 a.m. across the province after a series of attacks targeted Alawite-majority areas in the south of Homs.

The violence came shortly after a man and woman from the Bani Khalid Bedouin tribe were found dead inside their home in Zaydal, in southern Homs. The woman's body was reportedly burned and sectarian graffiti was found at the scene in what the Interior Ministry said was an attempt to sow sectarian strife.

The man was identified as Abdullah Al-Aboud Al-Nasser Al-Khalidi, who according to several reports is an imam, while his wife was not named.

In a statement, the ministry condemned the “heinous crime,” saying an investigation was immediately initiated and that it is doing all it can to protect civilians and stabilize the area.

The ministry called for restraint and urged residents to refrain from any retaliatory actions.

But within hours, armed members of the Bani Khalid tribe descended on the Alawite-majority neighborhoods of al-Bassel and al-Muhajirin, vandalizing and setting fire to private property and vehicles. They........

© Al Monitor