The death toll from violent clashes in Syria has surpassed 1,000, marking one of the deadliest episodes in the country in over a decade. The violence erupted between Syrian security forces and loyalists of ousted President Bashar al-Assad, with revenge killings escalating across the western coastal region.
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), a UK-based war monitoring group, nearly 750 civilians have been killed, most from close-range shootings. Additionally, 125 members of government security forces and 150 militants affiliated with Assad’s regime have died. Large parts of the coastal city of Latakia have been left without electricity and drinking water due to the ongoing violence.
The fighting began on Thursday after insurgents, led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group, overthrew al-Assad’s government in December, after 24 years in power. The government has claimed its actions are a response to attacks from Assad loyalists and blames “individual actions” for the escalating violence.
Sectarian Revenge Killings
On Friday, Sunni Muslim gunmen loyal to the government began targeting members of Assad’s minority Alawite sect in revenge for the atrocities committed by the regime. Attacks in Alawite towns have been brutal, with gunmen firing at civilians in the streets and setting fire to looted homes. In Baniyas, one of the hardest-hit towns, bodies were left scattered on the streets and rooftops for hours before they could be recovered.
Ali Sheha, a Baniyas resident, described the chaos, saying gunmen fired indiscriminately at homes and demanded to see identity cards to identify Alawite victims before executing them. “It was very, very bad. Bodies were on the streets,” Sheha recalled.
International Reactions
The violent escalation has prompted international concern. Germany’s Special Envoy for Syria, Stefan Schneck, condemned the violence and called for peaceful solutions, national unity, and transitional justice. The European Union’s Michael Ohnmacht echoed this sentiment, urging restraint and respect for the safety of all Syrian civilians.
France also voiced grave concern, condemning the atrocities based on religious grounds and calling for independent investigations into the crimes. The French foreign ministry urged Syrian authorities to ensure accountability for those responsible.
As the violence continues to spiral, the international community remains focused on ending the cycle of revenge and restoring peace to Syria, but with no clear path forward.
Sources:
- Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR)
- DW (Deutsche Welle)
- Interviews with local residents and international officials
Syrian troops (AP pic) Via FMT
