World
Syrians Recount Horror as Alawite Families Massacred in Their Homes
Survivors share chilling accounts of the targeted killings of Alawite families in Syria, highlighting the ongoing terror and violence in the region.
The interim leader of Syria has called for unity amidst ongoing violence and retaliatory killings in regions that remain loyal to the deposed former leader, Bashar al-Assad, on Sunday.
Reports indicate that hundreds of people have fled their homes in the coastal provinces of Latakia and Tartus, areas known for strong support of Assad.
Local residents have reported witnessing instances of looting and widespread killings, including those involving children.
In Hai Al Kusour, an area mainly inhabited by Alawites in the coastal city of Banias, residents report that the streets are strewn with bodies—some stacked and stained with blood. According to witnesses, men of various ages were found shot dead there.
The Alawite sect, an offshoot of Shia Islam, comprises approximately 10% of Syria’s population. In contrast, the majority are Sunni Muslims. Assad is a member of the Alawite community.
On Friday, fear gripped people so much that they hesitated to even glance out their windows. Despite an unstable internet connection, when online, they discovered the news of their neighbors’ deaths through Facebook posts.
Ayman Fares shared with the BBC that his recent imprisonment ultimately saved him. In August 2023, he had uploaded a video on Facebook criticizing Assad’s corrupt leadership, which led to his arrest shortly afterward. He remained incarcerated until Islamist-led forces liberated prisoners following Assad’s downfall last December.
The fighters who raided the streets of Hai Al Kusour recognized him, so they spared his life but not his possessions. They took his cars and continued their raids on other houses.
“They were strangers, and I couldn’t determine their identity or language. However, they appeared to be of Uzbek or Chechen origin,” Mr. Fares mentioned during our phone conversation.
“There were some Syrians present who weren’t part of the official security detail, as well as civilians involved in carrying out the killing,” he added.
Mr. Fares recounted witnessing families being killed in their homes, with women and children left covered in blood. Despite seeking refuge on rooftops, some families could not escape the violence. “It is horrific,” he remarked.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, based in the UK, recorded over 740 civilian deaths in the coastal cities of Latakia, Jableh, and Banias. Additionally, reports indicate that around 300 security personnel and remnants of Assad’s regime have died during clashes.
Mr. Fares explained that stability was restored when the Syrian army and security forces entered Banias. They expelled other factions from the city and established corridors for families to reach safe areas, he noted.
Ali, a fellow Banias resident who preferred to remain partially anonymous, confirmed Mr. Fares’ story. Living in Kusour with his wife and 14-year-old daughter, Ali escaped from his home with the help of security forces.
“They arrived at our building, and we were terrified just listening to the sound of fire and people’s screams in the neighborhood. We discovered information about the deaths through sporadic Facebook posts whenever we could get a connection. But when they reached our building, we thought it was over,” he said.
Their target was money. They knocked on our neighbor’s door and took his car, cash, and any gold or valuables he had in the house. Fortunately, they did not kill him.
The Sunnis quickly acted to shield the Alawites from the violence that occurred, and now official forces have arrived in town to reestablish order.
Ali mentioned that families were relocated to a school in a predominantly Sunni neighborhood, where they will be safeguarded until the factions responsible for the killings are expelled from Banias.
The violence began on Thursday when Assad loyalists, unwilling to surrender their weapons, ambushed security forces near the coastal cities of Latakia and Jableh, resulting in the deaths of dozens.
Ghiath Dallah, a former brigadier general in Assad’s army, has declared a new rebellion against the current government. He announced that he is forming the “Military Council for the Liberation of Syria.”
Certain reports indicate that ex-security officers from the Assad regime, who have resisted disarming, are organizing a resistance group in the mountains.
Mr. Fares stated that the majority of the Alawite community disapprove of them, attributing responsibility for the violence to Dallah and other staunch Assad supporters.
“They gain from the ongoing violence. At this moment, our priority must be to establish official security and bring those responsible for the mass killings to justice in order to restore safety across the country,” he stated.
However, some also hold interim president Ahmad al-Sharaa responsible, arguing that he dismantled Syria’s security forces, army, and police without a clear plan to manage the thousands of officers and personnel who became unemployed as a result.
Some individuals, particularly within the police force, were not involved in any killings during Assad’s regime. Additionally, the new authorities terminated thousands of public employees from their positions.
With 90% of Syria’s population living below the poverty line and countless individuals without an income, conditions are ripe for a rebellion.
Opinions in Syria are divided regarding the current events. The broader community denounces the killing of civilians, and demonstrations have been organized in Damascus to mourn the victims and condemn the violence.
However, in the past two days, there have been calls for “Jihad” across various regions of Syria. Residents of Banias reported that alongside organized factions, some armed civilians also took part in the violence.
Following the outbreak of violence, the Syrian army dispatched reinforcements to stabilize the region.
Human rights groups have gathered evidence indicating that Alawite security officers played a role in the killing and torture of thousands of Syrians, most of whom were Sunni Muslims, during the Assad regime.
The majority of the fallen members from the army and security forces belong to the Sunni community. In response, certain factions within this community are advocating for retaliation; however, the president has urged restraint and calmness.
Sharaa, whose Islamist forces overthrew Assad three months ago, now faces the challenge of balancing safety for all citizens with seeking justice for the crimes committed by Assad’s regime and its allies.
Although he maintains authority over some of the troops that aided his rise to power, certain factions are evidently beyond his control. Among these independent groups are foreign fighters with a radical Islamist agenda.
To guide Syria toward a secure and democratic future, many contend that Sharaa must eliminate the presence of foreign fighters and establish a constitution safeguarding the rights of all Syrians, irrespective of their background or religion.
Although he appears to be working on the legal framework for such a constitution, managing the violent factions and removing foreign fighters will present a significant challenge.
