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Syria plunges back into violence: executions of Alawite civilians in Latakia after the fall of Assad

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Clashes and round-ups in Alawite stronghold. Hundreds dead, UN raises alarm. The new al-Sharaa government under pressure

After months of relative stability, Syria has again plunged into violence following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime on 8 December. Security forces loyal to the new interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, are accused of executing hundreds of Alawite civilians in the coastal province of Latakia, the historical stronghold of the deposed Assad, who is now in Moscow.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based organisation, the death toll from the clashes and executions since Thursday has reached 524 people, including 311 Alawite civilians and 213 members of security forces and allied groups. The raids, which are mainly concentrated in Assad’s hometown of Qardaha, have sparked a climate of fear among the Alawite minority, which accounts for about 9% of Syria’s population.

New president calls on Alawites to surrender

The interim president al-Sharaa, backed by armed factions including the jihadist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, appealed to the Alawites to surrender ‘before it is too late’. In a post on Telegram, al-Sharaa declared that ‘the new Syria will prosecute and try the remnants of the regime’, accusing the Alawites of having committed ‘an unforgivable mistake’ during Assad’s rule.

Curfews and fears of escalation

The situation is critical in the cities of Homs, Latakia and Tartus, where curfews have been imposed and fighting and power cuts are reported. The British broadcaster BBC has confirmed the authenticity of videos showing scenes of extreme violence, including a body being dragged through the streets of Latakia. The United Nations, through its special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, expressed ‘deep concern’ about the escalation and urged the parties to avoid further deterioration of the situation.

International reactions and regional fears

Russia and Turkey issued warnings about the danger of this new spiral of violence, which could destabilise the entire region, while Germany called on Syria to avoid escalation. Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman strongly condemned the violence, warning that third-party actors, particularly Israel, could exploit the crisis to fuel further unrest.

A country torn apart by armed factions

The Syrian transitional authorities face a complex challenge: despite the end of the Assad regime, the presence of multiple armed factions, including former military personnel loyal to the old regime, makes it difficult to control the entire territory. Syria, multi-faith and multi-ethnic, remains a minefield of sectarian tensions and internal conflicts.

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