‘Entire families’ killed in Syria fighting, UN says

It is reported that violent incidents in the coastal region of Syria have resulted in hundreds of deaths. This area is primarily inhabited by Alawite Muslims. The United Nations Human Rights Office stated that entire families, including women and children, have been killed in the Syrian coastal region as part of a recent series of sectarian massacres perpetrated by rival groups, further exacerbating the already tense situation.

The wave of violence began last Thursday, with the Ministry of Defense reporting that armed groups loyal to the ousted former President Bashar al-Assad ambushed security forces in Latakia province, resulting in the deaths of at least 16 security personnel. The attacks escalated into sectarian violence, with pro-government forces running rampant in the Alawite-populated coastal provinces, as well as in the nearby Hama and Homs provinces, killing civilians, sometimes entire families, in streets, homes, and on rooftops, leaving a trail of destruction and despair.

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a war monitoring organization, stated that nearly 200 of the approximately 1,000 civilian victims were from Baniyas. Al Jazeera was unable to independently verify the death toll. UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Tameen Al-Kitan stated on Tuesday: "In some extremely disturbing incidents, entire families, including women, children, and those hors de combat, have been killed, primarily targeting Alawite towns and villages," highlighting the severity and targeted nature of the violence.

Al-Kitan stated that preliminary reports indicate that the identities of the perpetrators have not yet been determined, including both members of armed groups supporting the Syrian interim authorities and individuals affiliated with the former government. "They appear to have been carried out on a sectarian basis in the Tartus, Latakia, and Hama governorates – reportedly by unidentified armed men, allegedly members of armed groups supporting the caretaker authorities' security forces, as well as individuals affiliated with the former government," suggesting a complex and multifaceted conflict dynamic.

On Sunday, the country's new presidential office, led by interim President Ahmed Shala, announced the establishment of a fact-finding committee to "investigate violations against civilians and identify those responsible for these acts." The statement said the committee would submit its findings within 30 days and bring those responsible for violations to justice. Yasser Farhan, a spokesperson for the new fact-finding committee, stated at a press conference in Damascus on Tuesday: "The new Syria is determined to uphold justice and the rule of law, protect the rights and freedoms of citizens, prevent illegal reprisals, and guarantee that there will be no impunity." Farhan added that the committee is "collecting and reviewing" evidence related to the wave of violence, signaling a commitment to transparency and accountability.

When Assad fell last December, Syrian analysts feared retaliatory attacks against the Alawite community – the second-largest religious group in Syria after Sunni Muslims. Al-Kitan stated that the UN Human Rights Office has so far documented the deaths of 111 civilians and expects the death toll to be much higher. Of these, 90 were men, 18 were women, and 3 were children. Al-Kitan told reporters: "Many of the documented cases are summary executions. They appear to have been carried out on a sectarian basis." He cited survivor testimonies stating that, in some cases, men were shot in front of their families, underscoring the brutality and cruelty of the violence.

Human Rights Watch also called on the new Syrian authorities on Tuesday to ensure accountability for the mass killings. "Syria's new leaders pledged to break with the horrors of the past, but serious abuses against Alawite Syrians are reportedly occurring on a large scale in the coastal region and elsewhere in Syria," said Adam Coogle, deputy regional director at Human Rights Watch, in a statement. He added: "The government must act quickly and decisively to protect civilians and prosecute those responsible for unlawful killings, summary executions, and other serious crimes," emphasizing the urgent need for government intervention and justice.