Syria’s Islamist authorities have been accused of a violent crackdown in the Alawite-majority coastal region, resulting in the deaths of more than 532 people, including women and children, since Thursday, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
Rami Abdulrahman, head of the war monitor, said gunmen and security forces linked to Syria’s new Islamist government have been responsible for the killings in Jableh, Baniyas, and surrounding areas. The escalation has been described as one of the worst outbreaks of violence in the 13-year Syrian civil war.
The new ruling authority has targeted what it claims is an insurgency by fighters loyal to former President Bashar al-Assad’s regime. In response, Syrian security forces have clashed with fighters, resulting in the deaths of several dozen officers.
Syrian officials have acknowledged “violations” during the operation but blamed them on disorganized groups of civilians and fighters who either attempted to support security forces or commit crimes amid the chaos. However, the scale of the violence, including reports of execution-style killings, raises concerns about the Islamist ruling authority’s ability to govern fairly and inclusively.
Syria’s interim president, Ahmed Sharaa, defended the crackdown on national television, urging security forces not to overreact. He emphasized that the country must uphold its values and treat civilians and captives with respect.
Social media on Saturday was filled with tributes to the victims from the coastal region, many of whom were mourned by their families and friends. Abdulrahman, a prominent critic of the Assad regime, said the violence was not just politically motivated but sectarian in nature, with the goal of driving the Alawite community from their homes.
The Syrian Ministry of Defence and internal security forces claimed on Saturday that they were working to restore order and prevent further violations against civilians in the coastal region.
Reports from locals indicated that thousands of Alawites and Christians have fled their homes since Thursday. Some 300 to 400 civilians, primarily women, children, and the elderly, sought refuge at the Russian military base in Hmeimim, Latakia.
Despite the Islamist Syrian government’s claims, ongoing reports of killings, looting, and arson in Baniyas and surrounding villages suggest that violence continues unabated.
