In the last 48 hours, over 700 civilians have been killed in Syria in what has been described as “massacres” by the U.K.-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The violence, concentrated in the coastal areas of Tartus and Latakia, has been attributed to clashes between Syrian government forces and fighters loyal to Bashar al-Assad. Secretary of State Marco Rubio blamed “radical Islamic terrorists” for the killings, urging accountability from Syria’s leadership. The violence has predominantly affected the Alawite community, to which the Assad family belongs.
Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa called for peace amidst reports of executions, firing squads, and bodies in the streets. Syria’s Presidency announced the formation of a national committee to investigate the events on the Syrian coast and promised to identify those responsible. The violence has led to widespread displacement and trapped civilians in their homes, prompting calls for protection from all parties involved.
The surge in violence in Syria poses a threat to the country’s fragile stability and could potentially reignite civil war if not controlled by the interim government. The rise of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and other extremist groups has raised concerns among minority groups like the Alawites, Christians, Druze, and Yazidis. Unifying Syria’s diverse ethnic and religious groups post-Assad has been a major challenge, and the recent violence challenges Sharaa’s claims of fostering stability and protection for all groups. The international community has been watching closely, as the violence may impact Sharaa’s efforts to assure Western leaders of a peaceful Syria.
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