Political Revenge Battle in Syria, More Than 1,000 Killed

BEIRUT, SUNDAY — The death toll from two days of clashes between Syrian security forces and loyalist groups of President Bashar al-Assad exceeded 1,000 people on Sunday (9/3/2025). This was reported by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), an organization based in London, England, which relies on information from its network of sources in Syria.

The violence over the past two days has been the worst since the Syrian civil war broke out in 2011.

SOHR added that electricity and drinking water services were cut off from the city of Latakia on the western coast of Syria, a stronghold of the Alawite minority population.

Violence erupted on Thursday (6/3/2025), marking a major escalation since the new Syrian government took power in early December 2024. The new Syrian government stated that measures are being taken to address attacks by remnants of Assad's forces. Damascus blamed "individual actions" for the series of violent incidents.

The new Syrian government is currently dominated by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, which has mobilized resistance to overthrow the Bashar al-Assad regime in early December 2024. A series of retaliatory killings has occurred since Friday, when a group of armed men loyal to the new government attacked the Alawite minority group.

The information was conveyed by two residents in the western coastal region of Syria from their hiding place. They requested anonymity due to concerns for their safety. Currently, thousands of Alawite residents are fleeing to the mountains.

As for Ali Sheha (57), a resident of the Baniya District who fled with his family since last Friday, he stated that at least 20 Alawi residents, his neighbors and friends in Baniya, were killed in their homes or shops.

Sheha said the killings were revenge against the Alawite community for past atrocities committed by the Assad regime. Other residents said armed groups—including foreign fighters and militias from other villages and towns—were involved in the attacks.

"It was terrible, there were bodies strewn all over the streets," said Sheha, who fled about 20 kilometers from her home.

SOHR Director Rami Abdurrahman said the revenge killings ended on Saturday morning. "This is one of the worst massacres in the entire Syrian conflict," he said.

The death toll was previously estimated at 600. That number continues to rise.

The funeral of four members of the government security forces in Al-Janoudiya, a rural area in northwestern Syria, was held Saturday afternoon, after clashes in the coastal area around the Alawite settlement.

Syria's state news agency SANA, citing an official source in the Defense Ministry, said government forces were able to take control of areas previously held by Assad loyalists. "Security forces have closed all land routes to Syria's coastal provinces to restore security," the official said.

On Saturday morning, 31 victims of revenge killings in Tuwaym village were buried in a local mass grave. Among the victims were nine children and four women who were also killed in the village.

Lebanese lawmaker Haidar Nasser from the Alawite community said Alawites were fleeing Syria to Lebanon. He did not say how many refugees there were.

Nasser said that many Alawites also took refuge at the Russian Air Base in Hmeimim. He added that since the fall of Assad, many Alawites have been fired from their jobs. Syrian soldiers from the Alawite sect who reported themselves ready for duty were killed.

During Assad's rule, many military and security officials were from the Alawite sect. Assad's new government has blamed Assad loyalists for the recent violence.

The French government, the former colonial power of Syria, expressed concern about what is happening in Syria. Paris, Saturday (8/3/2025), condemned the violence in Syria that targeted civilians because of differences in belief and prisoners. This condemnation was conveyed after news emerged of the killing of 500 Alawites in Syria.

In a written statement, the French Foreign Ministry urged the new Syrian government to open an independent investigation to uncover the crimes and punish the perpetrators.

The leaders of Syria’s three main churches issued a joint statement condemning the massacre of innocent civilians. “In recent days, there has been an escalation of violence, brutality and killing of civilians, including women and children,” the Syrian Church said in a statement.

The decree was signed by the Patriarchs of the Orthodox Church, the Syriac Orthodox Church and the Melkite Greek Catholic Church. The violence occurred in the heartland of the Alawite sect, which is caught in the middle of a conflict between new government forces and armed groups loyal to Assad.

Most Syrian Christians displaced during the civil war that broke out in 2011 still live in Christian enclaves in the Mediterranean city of Latakia, a center of Alawite settlements.

"The Churches condemn all acts that threaten peace and massacre civilians. We call for an immediate end to the violence that is in stark contrast to humanitarian values," the Syrian Church leaders said.

The church urged the immediate creation of a conducive situation to achieve national reconciliation in Syria. The church urged that a transition period be established on the basis of equality and sincere partnership, regardless of the ideology of hatred and differentiation between groups.

The leader of Syria's Druze minority, Sheikh Hikmat al-Hajri, also urged an end to the violence. "The fire of sectarian violence will destroy us Syrians," Hajri said. (AP/AFP/Reuters)