"An armed group opened fire on MP Waris al-Yunis's car as it travelled on the Hama-Salamiyah road at around 9:00 pm (2330 IST) on Tuesday evening, killing him instantly," the source told AFP.
Yunis was a representative from the coastal province of Tartus, a stronghold of support for President Bashar al-Assad, and a bastion of the Alawite minority sect to which the embattled leader belongs.
Rami Abdel Rahman, director of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group, said Yunis was a commander in the pro-regime National Defence Force militia.
Yunis is one of a number of members of Syria's parliament killed in the country's bloody conflict, which began in March 2011 with anti-government protests and has spiralled into a civil war.
More than 180,000 people have been killed since the uprising began, according to the Observatory.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
