Following Bashar al-Assad’s ousting, Syria’s Alawite community faces severe reprisals from Sunni factions and displaced populations. Over 1,000 people have died in recent violence, including numerous Alawites, amid escalating sectarian conflict. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reports many civilians were executed, with significant casualties in Latakia, a key Alawite stronghold. Clashes erupted as new rulers struggle with remnants of Assad’s forces. Eyewitnesses describe brutal attacks and executions in Alawite villages, prompting widespread displacement. France condemned the violence and urged for independent investigations into the atrocities, highlighting the dire circumstances faced by the Alawite minority.
New Delhi:
With the exit of Bashar al-Assad, the situation for Syria’s Alawite community is increasingly uncertain. Previously supported by the regime, numerous Alawites now confront retaliation from rebel groups and displaced Sunni populations who endured suffering during Assad’s leadership. Revenge attacks have already claimed the lives of over 1,000 individuals, including many Alawites, as the power landscape in Syria undergoes violent shifts. This violence marks some of the most severe since the onset of Syria’s conflict 14 years ago.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), based in Britain, reports that 745 civilians—mostly shot at close range—are among the deceased. Additionally, 125 personnel from government security and 148 militants associated with Assad-affiliated armed groups were also killed. Ongoing fighting has left significant areas of Latakia without electricity and access to drinking water.
According to SOHR, Syrian security forces executed at least 162 Alawites in what are described as “field executions” in Latakia province, a region loyal to Assad and his sect. The Syrian Interior Ministry has acknowledged “individual violations” along the coast and pledged to take action.
The clashes, which began on Thursday, present a substantial challenge for Syria’s new leadership, which assumed control three months ago following Assad’s removal. The government claims its actions were a response to assaults from lingering elements of Assad’s forces and has characterized the killings as isolated incidents.
Who Are The Alawites?
The Alawites represent a religious minority in Syria, making up roughly 12 percent of the population. Emerging from Shia Islam, they possess unique beliefs and practices. Historically, Alawites have been concentrated in the coastal regions of Syria, particularly in Latakia and Tartus provinces.
The Assad family, which governed Syria for over five decades until December 2024, is part of the Alawite sect. Throughout their reign, Alawites occupied prominent roles in the military and government, fostering perceptions of favoritism.
Why Are They Being Killed?
Following Assad’s ouster, armed Sunni factions, reportedly supporting the new government, initiated revenge killings against Alawites, exacerbating Syria’s sectarian tensions. This surge in violence poses a challenge to the authority of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the hardline Sunni faction that played a pivotal role in Assad’s downfall.
For many years, Alawites constituted the core of Assad’s support network. Now, they are encountering deadly retribution. Eyewitness accounts describe horrific scenes in Alawite villages, where gunmen executed civilians, predominantly men, either on the streets or at their homes. Residences were ransacked and set ablaze, forcing thousands to seek refuge in the nearby mountains.
Baniyas, one of the most severely affected areas, has been the site of some of the most brutal assaults. Residents have reported seeing bodies scattered across the streets and left on rooftops. In certain instances, gunmen prevented locals from retrieving the bodies of their neighbors for hours.
Ali Sheha, a 57-year-old local who fled with his family, recounted a massacre in his neighborhood, where at least 20 Alawites were killed. Some were shot in their shops, while others were targeted within their homes.
“It was incredibly bad. Bodies lay on the streets,” Sheha shared via phone from a nearby town, mentioning that gunmen were firing at random individuals, checking IDs to ascertain sect affiliation before executing them.
International Reactions
France has voiced “deep concern” regarding the escalating violence, emphatically condemning atrocities rooted in religious differences. In a recent statement, the French Foreign Ministry urged Syria’s interim government to facilitate independent inquiries into the widespread killings.