This profile traces the path of Mohsen al-Haymed, leader of the armed group that killed three members of the security forces in the city of Al-Sanamayn. Through it, Kashaf examines his group's shifting ties between the legacy of the former regime and cells accused of links to ISIS, along a path marked by repeated tensions with Syria's new security forces, the most recent being a security raid that turned into clashes in September 2026.
Identity and Armed Influence
Mohsen al-Haymed is described as a leader of a local armed group in Al-Sanamayn whose name has been linked to assassinations, clashes and smuggling, and which held wide armed influence inside the city. The group also faced accusations of causing repeated security incidents, along a path punctuated by successive tensions with Syria's new security forces, which makes understanding the group's background a way into reading the latest confrontations in the city.
Ties to the Military Security Branch
Al-Haymed's group was linked to the Military Security Branch of the former regime, and reports spoke of it receiving support, weapons and security cards. According to local sources, the group was used to pursue the former regime's opponents, and security and military sites also provided cover for its members.
Alleged Links to ISIS
Reports spoke of al-Haymed's group harbouring individuals linked to ISIS, and sources pointed to ties between some of the group's members and the organisation's cells, while accusations persisted that some of its members were linked to ISIS cell activity in the area. However, there is not enough evidence to establish that al-Haymed himself pledged allegiance to the organisation, which calls for a distinction between the accusations directed at members of his group and his own position.
Control of the Ninth Division's Weapons
Al-Haymed took control of the Ninth Division's weapons and hid a large part of the arms and heavy equipment in secret caches. According to documentation monitored by Kashaf, part of these weapons was moved to Al-Sanamayn, while another part was sold to armed factions led by Hikmat al-Hijri in Suwayda.
A Year and a Half of Security Pursuit
The first stage of the pursuit documented in this profile dates back to March 2025, when, according to media reports, clashes broke out between the security forces and al-Haymed's group and a number of its members fled. On 17 September 2026, a security raid in Al-Sanamayn turned into clashes that left three members of the Internal Security Forces dead and others wounded, and led to the imposition of a curfew.
What al-Haymed's Story Reveals
Al-Haymed's story reveals shifting ties between local groups, networks of the former regime and cells accused of links to ISIS. With the change of authority the file did not close; instead, security confrontations returned to Al-Sanamayn. The dismantling of arms, financing and protection networks remains a fundamental challenge to the region's stability.
