HUSSEINIYEH, Syria — A group of rebel fighters moved into a village in southeastern Damascus to confront a surge of looters who descended upon a residential complex, engaging in widespread theft and even setting some apartments ablaze.

This operation by the rebels follows a recent rapid advance toward the Syrian capital that led to the escape of President Bashar Assad, thereby bringing an end to over fifty years of his family’s governance.

As the situation unfolds in Damascus, the rebel forces have made public safety a top priority. They have noted instances of limited looting targeting private homes, along with sporadic attacks aimed at security installations and government properties.

On Sunday, the rebel contingent reached Husseiniyeh after numerous looters, which included women and children, raided a local residential complex. Eyewitnesses reported that these looters carried away furniture, window fittings, food supplies, copper wiring, and virtually anything else they could find.

One resident expressed despair, stating, “After 25 years, my home has been completely stripped bare. If they’re not stealing, they’re setting things ablaze. Look at what they’ve done; today they began with the copper wiring.” He then intervened when he saw a child attempting to leave with a box full of metal cords.

Another resident, who serves as a school principal, recounted a similar plight; her home was looted, and she found herself powerless to intervene. Frustrated, she chastised the rebel group, prompting a fighter to respond that they would establish a checkpoint to curtail ongoing thefts, which they attributed mainly to looters from a nearby village.

Reports indicate that in some instances, looters resorted to firing grenades at apartments, resulting in fires that further damaged the buildings. The complex in question has been home to former military officers and service members.

In their effort to restore order, the rebels fired shots aimed at incapacitating the vehicles used by the looters and creating a deterrent effect to disperse crowds. Fortunately, no injuries were reported during these confrontations. The rebels also urged any remaining looters inside the buildings to surrender voluntarily.

As the chaos unfolded, some looters managed to escape with their stolen goods while the rebels apprehended approximately a dozen individuals involved in the looting spree.