Syrian rebel force deploys to a village near Damascus to stop looters

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Syrian fighters aims their weapons in direction of suspected looters at a residential complex of former Bashar Assad’s military officers at the village of Husseiniyeh, in the outskirts of Damascus, Syria, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

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A Syrian fighter shouts during a looting at a residential complex of former Bashar Assad’s military officers at the village of Husseiniyeh, in the outskirts of Damascus, Syria, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

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Syrian fighters take position as suspected looters stay inside a building at a residential complex of former Bashar Assad’s military officers at the village of Husseiniyeh, in the outskirts of Damascus, Syria, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

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People are dispersed by Syrian fighters during a looting at a residential complex of former Bashar Assad’s military officers at the village of Husseiniyeh, in the outskirts of Damascus, Syria, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

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A Syrian fighter carries his weapon past a burning house during a raid to stop looters who swarmed a residential complex of former Bashar Assad’s military officers and set some apartments on fire at the village of Husseiniyeh, in the outskirts of Damascus, Syria, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

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A Syrian fighter searches a man suspect of looting at a residential complex of former Bashar Assad’s military officers at the village of Husseiniyeh, in the outskirts of Damascus, Syria, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

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A Syrian fighter shouts at suspected looters as they leave a house in a residential complex of former Bashar Assad’s military officers at the village of Husseiniyeh, in the outskirts of Damascus, Syria, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

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Syrian fighters take position as looters stay inside a building at a residential complex of former Bashar Assad’s military officers at the village of Husseiniyeh, in the outskirts of Damascus, Syria, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

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A boy holds his hands up as Syrian fighters conduct a raid to stop looters who swarmed a residential complex of former Bashar Assad’s military officers and set some apartments on fire at the village of Husseiniyeh, in the outskirts of Damascus, Syria, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Omar Sanadiki)

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Syrian fighters disperse people during a looting at a residential complex of former Bashar Assad’s military officers at the village of Husseiniyeh, in the outskirts of Damascus, Syria, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024. A rebel force deployed to the village in southeastern Damascus to stop looters who swarmed a residential complex in the area and set some apartments on fire. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

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Syrian fighters walk on an alley during a raid to stop looters who swarmed a residential complex of former Bashar Assad’s military officers and set some apartments on fire at the village of Husseiniyeh, in the outskirts of Damascus, Syria, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

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Syrian fighters check a man suspect of looting at a residential complex of former Bashar Assad’s military officers at the village of Husseiniyeh, in the outskirts of Damascus, Syria, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

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Boys run away from Syrian fighters during a looting at a residential complex of former Bashar Assad’s military officers at the village of Husseiniyeh, in the outskirts of Damascus, Syria, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

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A Syrian fighter aims his weapon in direction of suspected looters at a residential complex of former Bashar Assad’s military officers at the village of Husseiniyeh, in the outskirts of Damascus, Syria, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024. A rebel force deployed to the village in southeastern Damascus to stop looters who swarmed a residential complex in the area and set some apartments on fire. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

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Syrian fighters stop a man carrying window frames on a motorcycle during a raid to stop looters at the village of Husseiniyeh, in the outskirts of Damascus, Syria, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Omar Sanadiki)

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Syrian fighters detain men suspect of looting at a residential complex of former Bashar Assad’s military officers at the village of Husseiniyeh, in the outskirts of Damascus, Syria, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

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A Syrian fighter shouts at people suspect of looting at a residential complex of former Bashar Assad’s military officers at the village of Husseiniyeh, in the outskirts of Damascus, Syria, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

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A Syrian fighter stand next to women running away from a residential complex of former Bashar Assad’s military officers at the village of Husseiniyeh, in the outskirts of Damascus, Syria, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

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Syrian fighters looks at looters as they leave a house in a residential complex of former Bashar Assad’s military officers at the village of Husseiniyeh, in the outskirts of Damascus, Syria, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

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Syrian fighters detain men suspects of looting at a residential complex of former Bashar Assad’s military officers at the village of Husseiniyeh, in the outskirts of Damascus, Syria, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024. A rebel force deployed to the village in southeastern Damascus to stop looters who swarmed a residential complex in the area and set some apartments on fire. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

By LEO CORREA and OMAR SANADIKI

HUSSEINIYEH, Syria (AP) — A rebel force deployed to a village in southeastern Damascus to stop looters who swarmed a residential complex and set some apartments on fire.

The raid by the rebel force comes a week after the fighters marched on the Syrian capital in their lightening offensive that forced Syrian President Bashar Assad to flee, ending five decades of his family rule.

The rebel fighters have prioritized security in Damascus, where there was limited looting of private properties and attacks on security and government buildings.

On Sunday, a rebel force arrived at the village of Husseiniyeh after looters, including women and children, emptied a residential complex, walking away with furniture, windows, food, copper wires and anything they can get their hands on.

“Our things were all looted. My house of 25 years is all looted. If they are not looting, they are burning. Everything. As you see. They started today with copper wires,” one resident said. He then stopped a child walking away with a box containing metal cables.

Another resident, a school principal, said her house was looted and she was unable to stop it. She scolded the rebel force, and a fighter told her they will set up a checkpoint in the area to prevent the looters, who largely come from a nearby village.

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At times, looters fired grenades at apartments, setting them on fire. The residential complex houses former military officers and soldiers.

The rebels opened fire, shooting at the wheels of looters’ cars and next to the crowd to disperse it. No injuries were reported. They also called on looters still inside the buildings to hand themselves in.

Some looters fled, still hanging on to their booty, while the rebels detained about a dozen.

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