Death toll rises following clashes and revenge killings in Syria

Two days of clashes between Syrian security forces and supporters of ousted President Bashar al-Assad have resulted in over 1,000 deaths. This conflict marks one of the deadliest episodes of violence in Syria since the conflict erupted 14 years ago. The sheer scale of casualties underscores the deep-seated tensions that continue to plague the region.

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights stated that, in addition to 745 civilians killed (mostly from close-range gunfire), 125 members of government security forces and 148 militants from armed groups affiliated with Assad were also killed. Electricity and drinking water supplies were also cut off in large parts of the Latakia city area. These disruptions further exacerbate the humanitarian crisis in the affected areas.

The clashes, which erupted on Thursday, mark a significant escalation of challenges to the new government in Damascus. The government took power three months ago after rebels ousted the Assad regime. The government states that they are responding to attacks by remnants of Assad's forces and blamed the rampant violence on "individual acts." The government's response aims to restore order and stability amidst the ongoing unrest.

Retaliatory killings of members of Assad's minority Alawite sect by Sunni Muslim gunmen loyal to the government, which began on Friday, represent a major blow to Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (formerly the Nusra Front), which led the effort to overthrow the former government. For decades, the Alawites were Assad's main support base. This sectarian violence threatens to destabilize the fragile peace established after the regime change.

Residents of Alawite villages recounted to the Associated Press incidents of shootings, with gunmen killing Alawites in the streets or at their doorsteps, mostly men. Two residents in the Syrian coastal region, speaking from hiding, told the AP that many Alawite homes were looted and then set on fire. They requested that their names not be published out of fear of being killed by the gunmen, adding that thousands had fled to nearby mountains for safety. The widespread fear and displacement highlight the severity of the situation.

The town of Banias was among the hardest hit by the violence. Residents there said bodies lay in the streets or were abandoned on the roofs of houses and buildings, with no one able to retrieve them. One resident said gunmen prevented residents for hours from removing the bodies of five neighbors who were killed at close range on Friday. Ali Sheha, a 57-year-old Banias resident, fled with his family and neighbors hours after the violence erupted. He said at least 20 neighbors and colleagues were killed in an Alawite-populated neighborhood of Banias, some in shops or in their homes. Sheha called the attacks "revenge killings" against the Alawite minority for crimes committed by the Assad government. Other residents said the gunmen included foreign fighters and fighters from neighboring villages. The presence of foreign fighters adds a complex dimension to the conflict.

“The situation is very, very bad. There are bodies everywhere in the streets,” Sheha said by telephone from nearly 20 kilometers (12 miles) outside the city. He said gunmen had gathered less than 100 meters (yards) from his apartment building and were firing randomly at homes and residents. In at least one incident he knew of, the gunmen asked residents to show their ID cards to check their religion and sect before killing them. He said the gunmen also burned some houses, stole cars and looted homes. These acts of violence paint a grim picture of the lawlessness and brutality that have engulfed the region.

Rami Abdurrahman, who heads the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said the retaliatory killings stopped early Saturday. “This is one of the largest massacres carried out during the Syrian conflict,” Abdurrahman said, referring to the killing of Alawite civilians. The group had previously given a figure of more than 600 dead. No official figures have been released. The lack of official data underscores the difficulty in accurately assessing the scale of the tragedy.

The funerals of four members of the Syrian security forces who were killed in the clashes in the Syrian coastal region were held Saturday afternoon in the northwestern village of Al-Janoudiya. Many people attended the funerals. Syria’s state news agency quoted an unnamed Defense Ministry official as saying that government forces had regained control of most of the areas from Assad loyalists. It added that authorities had closed all roads leading to the coastal region “to prevent violations and gradually restore stability.” The government's efforts to regain control and restore order are underway.

In the central village of Tuwaim, the bodies of 31 people killed in retaliatory attacks the previous day were buried in a mass grave on Saturday morning. Residents said the dead included nine children and four women, and sent the AP photos of the bodies wrapped in white shrouds being lined up in the mass grave. The mass burial highlights the immense loss of life and the community's grief.

Lebanese lawmaker Haidar Nasser, one of two Alawites allocated seats in parliament, said people were fleeing Syria into Lebanon for safety. He said he did not have exact figures. Nasser said many were taking refuge in the Russian air base in Khmeimim, Syria, adding that the international community should protect Alawite Syrian citizens who are loyal to their country. He said many Alawites have been fired since Assad’s downfall, and some former soldiers who reconciled with the new authorities have been killed. The exodus of people seeking refuge underscores the precarious situation faced by the Alawite community.

Under Assad, Alawites held senior positions in the army and security agencies. The new government has accused his loyalists of attacking the country’s new security forces in recent weeks. France expressed “deep concern” over the recent violence in Syria. In a statement on Saturday, the French Foreign Ministry said Paris “condemns in the strongest terms the atrocities committed against civilians and prisoners on religious grounds.” France urged the Syrian interim authorities to ensure that an independent investigation “fully sheds light on these crimes.” International condemnation of the violence reflects the global concern over the situation in Syria.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the latest clashes began when government forces tried to detain a wanted person near the coastal city of Jableh, resulting in an ambush by Assad loyalists. This incident sparked the recent escalation of violence in the region.