Sectarian Violence Claims Lives of Numerous Syria Alawites
In recent developments, the forces under the Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham-led administration have reportedly killed at least 42 individuals from the Alawite community over the past two weeks. This follows a previous incident where approximately 1,700 members of the religious minority were killed in Syria's coastal regions.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) has reported that sectarian violence has claimed the lives of 42 Syrian Alawites since the conclusion of Ramadan on March 30. The incidents have been recorded in a range of areas, spanning from Latakia and Tartus to Homs further inland.
Rami Abdurrahman, who leads the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), observed that the magnitude of the violence has transitioned to isolated incidents, yet the killings persist. “The killings did not stop, but now they are individual acts,” he remarked, emphasizing the ongoing threat faced by the minority community.
Syria’s effective leader, former al-Qaeda in Iraq commander Abu Mohammad al-Julani, has sought to rationalize the violent actions as “mistakes” made amidst a counterinsurgency effort against what his regime terms the “remnants” of the deposed Bashar al-Assad government.
Alawites residing in the affected regions have conveyed a profound sense of fear and bewilderment concerning the prevailing narrative, feeling increasingly marginalized and targeted.
In a development that has intensified the community’s concerns, a UK-based monitoring organization has reported a worrisome increase in enforced disappearances and abductions. At least 17 women and minors have been reported missing in recent weeks, according to the group’s findings.
Activists have underscored that individuals opposing the Assad regime have not been exempt from violence. Mohammed Saleh, a former political detainee, reported that 18 of his Alawite friends, who were critical of Assad, were also killed in the attacks that occurred last month.
Saleh stressed the urgent necessity for a national army and security forces that comprehensively represent all sects and religions. He asserted, “A state that serves everyone cannot exist if security institutions are monopolized by a single sect.”
The situation intensified significantly on March 7 as armed assailants aligned with the ruling administration launched a brutal campaign of executions against Alawite civilians. Reports indicate that militants systematically targeted individuals, going door to door and killing approximately 1,700 Alawite civilians, including women and children. This violence occurred alongside ongoing incidents of murder, kidnapping, and robberies.
Numerous videos have emerged on social media platforms, recorded by personnel from Syria’s general security and directorate as well as the Ministry of Defense under the HTS-led administration, showing the gruesome execution of unarmed Alawite men between March 7 and March 9. Some of the victims were reportedly subjected to degrading treatment prior to their deaths.
Amid widespread public concern, the leader of HTS initiated a fact-finding committee on March 9, with the mandate of identifying those responsible and submitting a report within a month. However, on April 11, the deadline was pushed back by three months, which has led to growing doubts among local residents regarding the genuineness of the inquiry.
Amid rising sectarian tensions, the Alawite community faces increased vulnerability, with approximately 30,000 individuals having sought refuge in neighboring Lebanon to escape the persistent violence.
