Multiple reports indicate that Syrian security forces may have executed dozens of members of the Alawite minority amid rising sectarian tensions. The United Nations has expressed deep concern over these developments.
Reports Surface of Alawite Executions by Syrian Security Forces
Reports Surface of Alawite Executions by Syrian Security Forces
Allegations emerge that Syrian security forces executed 52 Alawites in Latakia amidst escalating violence following recent clashes.
In a troubling escalation of violence in Syria, a war monitoring organization has reported that Syrian security forces executed at least 52 individuals belonging to the Alawite minority in the coastal province of Latakia. Eyewitness footage reportedly shows numerous bodies clad in civilian clothing, discovered in a garden of a local residence.
An interior ministry representative confirmed to state media Sana that there were "individual violations" along the coast and promised measures to address them. However, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has been unable to authenticate the claims regarding the actions of the security forces under the country's new leadership.
The alarming reports have surfaced in the wake of intense clashes between government troops and loyalists of the ousted President Bashar al-Assad, resulting in the loss of over 70 lives. A curfew has since been enforced across Homs, Latakia, and Tartous, the epicenters of the recent violence.
Earlier footage validated by BBC Verify depicted a body being dragged behind a vehicle in Latakia, highlighting the brutal nature of the ongoing conflict. Geir Pedersen, the United Nations' special envoy for Syria, expressed profound concern over the violence, urging all factions to refrain from such acts that heighten tensions and further destabilize the region.
The Alawite region is considered the heartland of the minority sect to which the Assad family belongs, and estimates of the total fatalities vary widely. Locals report enduring mounting sectarian violence, stating that fear permeates communities across the country as tensions rise. A resident expressed that many are apprehensive, fearing they could become scapegoats in this volatile climate.
Both Turkey and Russia have cautioned that the recent bloodshed may have dire consequences for regional stability, with violence persisting since the fall of Assad in December. Alawites, constituting approximately 10% of Syria’s population, are facing significant threats amid a predominantly Sunni population.
An interior ministry representative confirmed to state media Sana that there were "individual violations" along the coast and promised measures to address them. However, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has been unable to authenticate the claims regarding the actions of the security forces under the country's new leadership.
The alarming reports have surfaced in the wake of intense clashes between government troops and loyalists of the ousted President Bashar al-Assad, resulting in the loss of over 70 lives. A curfew has since been enforced across Homs, Latakia, and Tartous, the epicenters of the recent violence.
Earlier footage validated by BBC Verify depicted a body being dragged behind a vehicle in Latakia, highlighting the brutal nature of the ongoing conflict. Geir Pedersen, the United Nations' special envoy for Syria, expressed profound concern over the violence, urging all factions to refrain from such acts that heighten tensions and further destabilize the region.
The Alawite region is considered the heartland of the minority sect to which the Assad family belongs, and estimates of the total fatalities vary widely. Locals report enduring mounting sectarian violence, stating that fear permeates communities across the country as tensions rise. A resident expressed that many are apprehensive, fearing they could become scapegoats in this volatile climate.
Both Turkey and Russia have cautioned that the recent bloodshed may have dire consequences for regional stability, with violence persisting since the fall of Assad in December. Alawites, constituting approximately 10% of Syria’s population, are facing significant threats amid a predominantly Sunni population.
