More than 1,000 people have been killed in violent communal clashes along Syria’s Mediterranean coast, marking one of the bloodiest episodes since the fall of Bashar al-Assad last December.
Interim Syrian leader and former HTS terrorist Ahmed Sharaa urged for national unity on Sunday, appealing for calm as the violence between fighters aligned with the country’s new rulers and remnants of Assad’s forces continued to spiral.
“We must preserve national unity and domestic peace,” Sharaa said in a video circulated on social media, speaking from a mosque in his Damascus neighborhood of Mazzah. “What is happening in Syria is part of the expected challenges, but we can live together.”
The violence, described by rights groups as a pogrom against Alawite communities who were historically aligned with Assad, has seen waves of revenge killings, home raids, and executions in towns and villages across the coastal region.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based monitor, reported that hundreds had been slain in the past two days alone.
A Legacy of Sectarian Violence
The conflict in Syria, which began in 2011 as a popular uprising against Assad’s rule, morphed into a brutal civil war defined by sectarian divisions.
Assad’s government, dominated by Alawites, brutally suppressed dissent for over a decade, with opposition forces, including Islamist groups, engaging in prolonged battles to overthrow the regime.
His downfall late last year created a power vacuum that has been exploited by various factions, including Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a former al-Qaeda affiliate that has gained significant influence in the north and is linked to Syria’s new ruling coalition.
Escalation of Attacks
Syria’s Islamist administration claims at least 200 security personnel had been killed in the clashes with former army officers loyal to Assad, after coordinated ambushes were carried out on Thursday.
The violence quickly escalated as armed supporters of Syria’s new government poured into the coastal regions, targeting Alawite-majority towns in retaliation.
Witnesses and human rights groups reported indiscriminate killings of Alawite civilians, with videos emerging online showing summary executions and torched homes.
Activists accuse armed groups, some with ties to HTS, of leading the offensive.
The Islamist authorities have struggled to control the situation, blaming the violence on what they describe as “unruly militias” seeking retribution for past atrocities committed by Assad’s forces. But analysts argue that Syria’s new rulers—some of whom have a history of extremism—are failing to prevent what increasingly appears to be a campaign of collective punishment against Alawite communities.
Insurgent Counterattacks and Infrastructure Sabotage
Pro-Assad insurgents have launched their own offensive, attacking critical infrastructure in what appears to be an attempt to destabilize the new Islamist government. A security source said rebels had sabotaged a major power station, cutting electricity to parts of the province, while also targeting a water pumping facility and several fuel depots.
“They are trying to create chaos, disrupt daily life, and attack vital installations,” the source said.
Latakia, a key coastal city, has seen heightened security, with authorities setting up additional checkpoints. Gunfire and artillery fire were reported on the outskirts of the city, while reinforcements were being deployed to mountainous regions where insurgents have been using rugged terrain as cover.
The situation remains volatile, with concerns mounting over the potential for broader sectarian bloodshed. The United Nations has urged restraint, warning that the latest violence could push Syria into another devastating cycle of conflict.
