Violence flares as Assad loyalists clash with forces of Syria's new government

Massive killings and executions have recently occurred in Syria, causing a large number of casualties, with reported deaths potentially reaching hundreds or even thousands. These events, attributed to both pro-government and opposition armed groups, pose the most severe challenge to the new Syrian president since the overthrow of the Assad regime. This escalating violence underscores the fragility of the current political transition.

Attacks against the new government's security forces have been steadily increasing for weeks. The violence escalated sharply after militants loyal to Assad launched a series of seemingly coordinated attacks in the Syrian coastal region on Thursday. The Syrian coastal region is home to the Alawite minority, an offshoot of Shia Islam, which accounts for about 10% of the Syrian population. The coordinated nature of these attacks suggests a level of organization and planning that poses a significant threat.

The Assad family are members of the Alawite sect. During their long and brutal rule, they placed fellow Alawites in senior positions in government departments, the military, and security services, which subjected the Syrian people to decades of serious human rights abuses. Currently, the majority of the Syrian population are Sunni Muslims, and the new Syrian President, Ahmed Shala, is also a Sunni Muslim. This demographic shift adds complexity to the political landscape.

In response to the attacks by Assad-loyalist militants, the interim government has deployed thousands of security forces to the coastal region. This includes factions allied with the government and armed civilians who have flooded into Alawite communities and villages. Residents have confirmed incidents of mass killings and executions of civilians. Due to the blockade of parts of the country and lack of access for journalists, estimates of the death toll vary widely. The difficulty in obtaining accurate information highlights the challenges in assessing the full extent of the atrocities.

According to records from the Syrian Network for Human Rights, pro-Assad militants killed 211 civilians and 172 members of the security forces, while pro-government forces and factions killed 396 people, including civilians. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) gained access to the coastal city of Tartus on Sunday, one of the areas where some of the fighting took place. The roads leading to the coast were mostly deserted, with soldiers at checkpoints inspecting vehicles for weapons and checking the identification of those attempting to pass. The presence of armed groups has made movement in the region dangerous.

Individuals without civilian identification were suspected of being members of the former regime's security forces. Standing at the edge of the seafront, a man questioned our purpose and stated that fighting was still occurring just 40 kilometers away and that it was not safe to stay. We met with government officials who indicated that we could not stay long. They said that while most of the city was secure, attacks by pro-Assad forces could occur at any time. The government's restrictions on movement underscore the ongoing security concerns.

They directed us to speak with Saleh Faris, who pulled up in a trailer carrying his bullet-riddled modern SUV. As a local newspaper reporter, he said he was driving north to report on killings in villages when he was attacked by remnants of the Assad regime. "Where I was attacked, they killed eight civilians," he told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. "Some of them were still alive, begging for mercy. They shot them as they said, 'Save us, save us.'" His account provides a harrowing glimpse into the brutality of the conflict.

He said they took him hostage and held him for three hours. "When they took me into the building, there was blood all over the place." He said he was able to escape when government forces pushed back the militants loyal to the regime. "I mean, it's a miracle we survived," he said. He suspects there are mass graves there. "There are excavators working, they are digging," he said. The discovery of mass graves would be a stark reminder of the scale of the violence.

Because authorities are not allowing journalists access, it is impossible to know exactly what happened in these places. They say it is not safe, but it is also unclear whether they do not want the world to see the alleged horrors that have occurred, possibly at the hands of their own military or allied factions. Unverified videos of alleged atrocities have been emerging for days. These videos show unidentified gunmen carrying out executions. Some victims are shown begging for mercy before being shot. The lack of transparency raises concerns about potential cover-ups.

Others are forced to crawl on their hands and knees, barking like dogs, before being killed. There are also photos of alleged mass graves being dug, and piles of bodies in the streets. In recent days, we have received a constant stream of messages from terrified Alawites in neighboring villages that we cannot access. A man in Baniyas described heavy fighting that began on Thursday night. On Friday, the gunfire stopped when military reinforcements arrived with heavy weapons. "We thought it was over. We were wrong," he wrote. These personal accounts paint a grim picture of the situation on the ground.

On Saturday morning, he hid in the home of a Sunni neighbor who took him and three other Alawite families in. He told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that armed men had begun going house to house in his community, executing Alawites. "If we had stayed 30 minutes longer, you wouldn't be talking to me. All our neighbors were killed," he said. He witnessed one execution and said there were hundreds of bodies in the streets, including three members of his family. They were his cousin, a teacher, and his two uncles, both in their seventies. The neighbor's bravery highlights the complex dynamics of the conflict.

"My three relatives were taken to the roof and shot along with all the other men in their building," he said. When asked who was responsible, he said the gunmen were regular security forces, the army, and armed volunteers. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation has not been able to verify their identities or organizations. "We are alive, but surrounded by fear," said a man who fled a mountain village and slept in a field overnight. "Some families in the village next to us are still in the fields because their homes have been burned down and they are afraid the factions will return." The widespread fear underscores the urgent need for security and protection.

These killings have placed enormous pressure on Syria's new president, Ahmed Shala. The Syrian Defense Force issued a statement saying that their operations in the coastal region had ended, but that is just one very different security service and group of individuals who are allegedly involved. Shala has vowed to punish those responsible, even if they are his own allies. He acknowledged that "many sides entered the Syrian coast and many violations occurred," and that after years of grievances, this has become an opportunity for revenge. His ability to deliver on this promise will be a critical test of his leadership.

Despite his acknowledgement, this remains a huge test for him, showing the limited control he has over the factions and armed groups that helped him overthrow Assad, and perhaps even over his own base. Minority groups and the international community have been looking for evidence that he truly believes in his promise to create an inclusive Syria. The lifting of international sanctions and the removal of members of his government from terrorist lists depend on this. The gruesome events of this week, and his inability to prevent them, will only fill them with skepticism. The international community is closely watching to see if he can deliver on his promises.

However, in a sign that Shala is moving towards his stated goals, his new government signed an agreement on Monday to incorporate Kurdish forces and their autonomous region into the Syrian nation. This indicates that he is working to stabilize the situation, but the road ahead remains challenging. The integration of Kurdish forces is a significant step towards a more unified Syria, but many obstacles remain.