The death toll of civilians from the Alawite community, loyal to ousted former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, has reached 1,383 due to clashes with security forces. The victims were killed in multiple coastal cities during law enforcement operations.
The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that at least 1,383 people have died in recent conflicts, most of whom were civilians from the Alawite community.
Following Bashar al-Assad’s downfall in December under pressure from the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), Syria’s new authorities have faced severe challenges in restoring law and order.
Currently, the country’s security forces are facing intense attacks from Alawite supporters of the former president. In response, the Syrian government has launched a large-scale crackdown against the minority group. The operation began after violent clashes in Alawite-dominated areas along the western coast.
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the government’s security forces and their allies have conducted operations in the western coastal provinces of Latakia, Tartus, and the neighboring Hama province. During these operations, 1,383 civilians from the Alawite community were killed.
The Observatory further stated that security forces and pro-government fighters executed Alawite civilians in a manner resembling summary executions and looted their homes and properties.