More than 340 people, including women and children from the Alawite minority, have reportedly been killed in Syria’s coastal region since Thursday in a surge of violence blamed on gunmen and Islamist security forces affiliated with the country’s new ruling authority. This marks one of the deadliest outbreaks of sectarian violence in Syria in recent years, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
Rami Abdulrahman, head of the Observatory, called the killings in Jableh, Baniyas, and surrounding Alawite-majority areas the worst violence seen in years during Syria’s 13-year-long civil conflict. The escalation began after deadly ambushes by militants linked to former president Bashar al-Assad’s regime, prompting a harsh crackdown by the new Islamist authorities.
While the authorities claim they are suppressing a budding insurgency, reports of execution-style killings, burned homes, and targeted attacks against Alawite civilians have surfaced, sparking accusations of sectarian cleansing. Six coastal residents confirmed that thousands of Alawites and Christians have fled their homes, with many taking shelter at Russia’s Hmeimim military base in Latakia.
A Syrian security official confirmed that dozens of security personnel were also killed in clashes. Amid the chaos, unauthorized civilian militias reportedly joined the violence, worsening the humanitarian toll. Officials acknowledged violations had occurred and warned that any forces operating outside military command would face military courts.
In a televised address, interim president Ahmed Sharaa warned against excess force, stating:
“When we give up on our morals, us and our enemy end up on the same side.”
Despite government assurances to restore calm, looting, killings, and displacement reportedly continued into the weekend. The widespread violence has raised urgent questions about the governing capacity and inclusivity of Syria’s new leadership, with Western and Arab nations voicing concern over potential ethnic and sectarian marginalization under the Islamist government.
While Reuters has been unable to independently verify the claims, multiple sources, including eyewitnesses and activists, report that the situation remains volatile and humanitarian needs are escalating.
