Reports suggest that 52 individuals of the Alawite minority have been executed by Syrian security forces in Latakia, as violence intensifies following clashes with loyalists of deposed President Bashar al-Assad. The situation poses a significant threat to regional stability, raising fears of sectarian violence.
Alawite Executions Alleged as Violence Erupts in Syria's Latakia
Alawite Executions Alleged as Violence Erupts in Syria's Latakia
Claims arise of Syrian security forces executing Alawite minority members amidst escalating conflict in the coastal region.
Syrian security forces are reportedly implicated in the execution of 52 Alawite individuals in the coastal province of Latakia, according to claims from a war monitoring organization. Footage examined by the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights shows what appears to be numerous bodies dressed in civilian attire, gathered in the yard of a residence in Latakia.
An unnamed source from the Syrian interior ministry indicated to the state-affiliated news agency Sana that there had been "individual violations" taking place along the coast and pledged to bring these actions to a halt. The authenticity of allegations that these killings were carried out by the regime’s forces remains unverified by BBC News.
The violence follows confrontations between government troops and fighters loyal to former President Bashar al-Assad, resulting in over 70 deaths. In light of the unrest, curfews have been implemented in several cities, including Homs, Latakia, and Tartous.
Previous footage corroborated by BBC Verify depicted a scenario of a body being dragged behind a vehicle, further escalating concerns regarding the scale of violence. The United Nations' special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, expressed his profound concern regarding the reports of violence and called for all parties involved to "abstain from actions that may intensify tensions and worsen the plight of affected communities."
The region in question is a stronghold of the Alawite minority and the Assad family, which shares this sect. Estimates regarding the death toll from the ongoing violence vary, complicating independent verification efforts by the BBC. Residents have reported feeling targeted by sectarian aggression, with one Alawite woman sharing with BBC Arabic her fears of becoming a "scapegoat" in this tumultuous environment.
As the violence marks one of the most severe outbreaks since the overthrow of Assad in December, warnings from Turkey and Russia highlight the potential for increased instability throughout the region. Alawites, constituting about 10% of Syria’s population, live in a nation dominated by Sunni Muslims, intensifying fears and vulnerabilities amid the present crisis.
