Syrians describe terror as Alawite families killed in their homes

Syria's interim leader has called for unity as violence and revenge killings continued on Sunday in areas loyal to former leader Bashar al-Assad. Hundreds of people have reportedly fled their homes in the coastal provinces of Latakia and Tartus, strongholds of Assad supporters, seeking refuge from the escalating conflict.

Local residents described scenes of looting and mass killings, including the deaths of children, painting a grim picture of the unfolding events. In the Alawite community of Ras al-Nabaa in the coastal city of Banias, residents said the streets were littered with scattered bodies, piled up and bloodied, underscoring the severity of the situation. Witnesses claimed that men of all ages were shot there, further highlighting the indiscriminate nature of the violence.

The Alawites, an offshoot of Shia Islam, account for about 10% of Syria's population, which is predominantly Sunni Muslim. Assad belongs to this sect, adding a sectarian dimension to the conflict. A man named Ayman Fares told the BBC that his recent imprisonment saved his life, illustrating the arbitrary nature of the former regime. He had posted a video on his Facebook account in August 2023 criticizing Assad's corrupt rule, leading to his arrest and subsequent release by Islamist-led forces after Assad's downfall last December.

The militants who raided the streets of Ras al-Nabaa recognized him, sparing his life but not his possessions, highlighting the targeted nature of some of the violence. They stole his car and proceeded to raid other houses, indicating a broader pattern of lawlessness. Fares told the BBC by telephone: "They were strangers, I couldn't recognize their identity or language, but they seemed to be Uzbek or Chechen. There were some Syrians with them, but not from the official security forces. Some civilians were involved in the killings too," suggesting a complex mix of actors involved in the violence.

Fares said he saw a family killed in their own home, with women and children covered in blood, emphasizing the brutality of the attacks. Some families ran to the rooftops to hide but were not spared from the bloodshed, demonstrating the widespread nature of the violence. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has documented the deaths of more than 740 civilians in the coastal cities of Latakia, Jableh, and Banias, providing concrete figures to the reports. It also reported that 300 members of the security forces and remnants of Assad's regime were killed in the clashes, although the BBC has not been able to independently verify the death toll.

Fares said the situation stabilized when Syrian troops and security forces arrived in the city of Banias, offering a glimpse of hope amidst the chaos. He said they drove the other factions out of the city and provided families with access to safe areas, restoring a semblance of order. Another resident of Banias, Ali (who asked that we not use his full name), confirmed Fares' account, further corroborating the narrative. Ali, who lives in Ras al-Nabaa with his wife and 14-year-old daughter, fled his home with the help of security forces, demonstrating the ongoing need for protection.

"They came to our building. We were too afraid and could only listen to the gunfire and the screams of our neighbors. We learned about the deaths from sporadic Facebook posts when we managed to connect. But when they came to our building, we thought we were done," he said, painting a picture of fear and uncertainty. "They were after money. They knocked on our neighbor's door and took his car, his money, and all the gold or valuables in his house. But he wasn't killed," suggesting that robbery was a primary motive for some of the attackers.

Ali and his family were taken in by his Sunni neighbors, who practice a different branch of Islam, and are now living with them, highlighting acts of solidarity amidst the sectarian strife. "We have lived together for many years, Alawites, Sunnis, and Christians. We have never experienced anything like this," he told me, underscoring the unprecedented nature of the violence. "The Sunnis rushed to protect the Alawites from the killings, and now the official forces have entered the city to restore order," demonstrating a complex and evolving dynamic.

Ali said some families were taken to a school in a Sunni-majority neighborhood, where they will be protected until the factions carrying out the killings are driven out of Banias, offering a temporary solution to the immediate crisis. The violence began on Thursday when Assad loyalists who refused to give up their weapons ambushed security forces near the coastal cities of Latakia and Jableh, killing dozens, triggering the escalation.

Ghiath Dalla, a former brigadier general in Assad's army, announced a new rebellion against the current government, stating that he was establishing a "Syrian Liberation Military Council," adding another layer of complexity to the conflict. Some reports suggest that former security officials of the Assad regime who refused to give up their weapons are forming a resistance group in the mountains, indicating a potential for prolonged instability. Fares said that most of the Alawite community rejects them and accuses Dalla and other hardline Assad loyalists of creating the violence, highlighting internal divisions within the Alawite community.

"They benefit from the bloodshed that is taking place. What we need now is for the official security forces to prevail and prosecute the killers of the factions that carried out the massacres so that the country can return to safety," he said, emphasizing the need for accountability and security. But others have accused interim President Ahmed Shala'a of dismantling Syria's security, military, and police apparatus without a clear strategy to deal with the thousands of unemployed officials and personnel, pointing to potential shortcomings in the transitional government.

Some of these individuals, particularly in the police force, had no connection to the killings during the Assad regime, raising concerns about indiscriminate purges. The new authorities have also dismissed thousands of civil servants, further exacerbating unemployment. With 90% of the Syrian population living below the poverty line and thousands without income, this creates fertile ground for insurgency, highlighting the socio-economic challenges facing the country.

Syria is divided on what is happening. The broader community condemns the killing of any civilians and has organized demonstrations in Damascus to mourn the dead and denounce the violence, showcasing a desire for peace. But in the past few days, there have also been calls for "jihad" across Syria, indicating a potential for further radicalization. Residents of Banias say that in addition to the factions, some civilians have armed themselves and joined the killings, contributing to the overall chaos and lawlessness.

For the past 13 years, Syria's Sunni majority has suffered atrocities at the hands of Assad regime forces, fueling sectarian animosity towards the Alawite minority, whose members have been linked to war crimes, adding historical context to the current violence. According to human rights organizations, there is evidence that Alawite security officials were involved in the killing and torture of thousands of Syrians, most of whom were Sunni Muslims, further exacerbating sectarian tensions.

Those members of the army and security forces who were killed were mostly from the Sunni community, and some in the Sunni community are now calling for revenge, but the president has called for calm, highlighting the delicate balance required to prevent further escalation. Shala'a, whose Islamist forces overthrew Assad three months ago, must now balance providing security for all with seeking justice for the crimes of the Assad regime and its henchmen, presenting a significant challenge for the interim leader.

While he has power over some of the forces that helped bring him to power, some factions are clearly beyond his control, indicating a fragmented security landscape. These factions also include foreign fighters with radical Islamist agendas, adding an international dimension to the conflict. Many believe that in order to lead Syria to a safe and democratic future, Shala'a needs to end the presence of any foreign fighters and develop a constitution that protects the rights of all Syrians, regardless of their background or religious beliefs, outlining key steps towards stability and reconciliation.

While it is believed that he is working on the legal framework for such a constitution, controlling the violent factions and expelling foreign fighters will be a major challenge, underscoring the long and difficult road ahead for Syria.