Over 340 civilian members of the Alawite community, loyal to Syria’s ousted former President Bashar al-Assad, were killed in clashes with security forces, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR).
Since the fall of Bashar al-Assad in December amid protests led by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), Syria’s new authorities have faced significant challenges in maintaining law and order.
Currently, the country’s security forces are facing intense attacks from Assad loyalists, prompting large-scale operations against the minority Alawite community. The security forces launched the operation following violent clashes in the western coastal region populated by Alawites.
On Saturday, SOHR reported that government security forces and their allies killed 340 Alawite civilians during operations in the western coastal and mountainous areas of Latakia. The organization stated that the security forces executed Alawite community members and looted their homes and properties.
According to SOHR, the total death toll has reached 553, including 92 members of the new government’s security forces and 120 Assad supporters. The clashes began after security forces arrested an individual from an Alawite-majority village.
Although the situation in the region has somewhat stabilized, security operations continue, with additional forces deployed in certain areas, SOHR noted.