Syria ripiomba in chaos, Alawiti in the sights

Three months after Assad’s escape Syria is ripped in chaos. After yesterday, in the coastal region of Latakia, the clashes between the new Syrian authorities and the armed men affiliated to a former commander of a Unit of Elite by Bashar Al-Assad had caused the death of 78 people, today another 69 members of the Alawita minority were executed, the same to which the former president belonged.

It was the Syrian observatory for human rights, through a reportage, to give the news of the executions that took place in the cities of Al Hafa, Mojtareya and Sher, always in the coastal province of Latakia, a former fiefdom of the Assad family. Yesterday’s violence saw the most ferocious attacks against the new authorities of the country since Assad was ousted in December by the heir group of Al Qaeda, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.

The reporting of the Observatory is based on verified videos and on the testimonies received by the relatives of the dead. The movies are terrible and show dozens of bodies in civilian clothes piled up in the courtyard of a house, women who cry and men in military clothes that seem to order three people to crawl on the ground one behind the other before opening fire on them at close range. A source of the Ministry of the Syrian Interior has established the “individual violations” of the Sana state news agency in the last few hours and the authorities have committed themselves to ending it.

Following the clashes, the Syrian government forces have imposed the curfew until tomorrow in the entire provinces of Latakia and Tartus – the heart of the religious minority Alawita – and also to Homs, the third largest city in Syria. According to what a security official declared, the operation “targeted the remains of Assad’s militias and those who supported them”, inviting civilians to “remain in their homes”. Based on the latest budget of the Observatory, over 150 people killed in Syria since the clashes broke out.

Among the 78 people killed yesterday in the fighting, 37 are members of the security forces, 34 armed men and seven civilians. The Observatory also reported dozens of injuries and other prisoners made by both sides. Mustafa Kneifati, security officer in Latakia, said that the operations follow “a well -planned and premeditated attack of the groups of Assad militiamen”. “We will restore the stability in the region and protect the property of our people,” he added.

Yesterday’s clashes saw the security forces conduct attacks with helicopters after clashing with armed men faithful to the commander of the special forces of the Assad era, Suhail Al-Hassan, in the village of Beit Ana. The attacks had pushed the leaders of the Alawita community to indirect “peaceful protests”. Also according to the Observatory, the tensions broke out after the residents of Beit Ana, the birthplace of Suhail Al-Hassan, prevented the security forces from arresting a person sought for the weapon trade.

Several high -ranking lealists of Assad fled after the expulsion of the former president, but many others remain in the country. Since then the new Syrian security forces have led vast campaigns trying to uproot them from his former bastions. Residents and organizations reported violations during these campaigns, including seizures of houses, field executions and kidnappings, which the authorities have described as “isolated accidents”. International countries and leaders commented on the situation in the country.

Saudi Arabia and Turkey reiterated their support for the new authorities, while Russia – Historical ally of Assad – has expressed its concern about the deterioration of the situation in Syria and invited Syrian leaders to do everything possible to quickly stop the spreading of blood and avoid victims among civilians “. Iran, another country historically close to Assad’s Syria, has distanced itself from the regime today in power, denying any relationship with the current government.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran is currently only a Syrian business observer,” said Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Israel – who borders on the South -West of Syria – intervened hard on the repression of the Alawites implemented by the President of Syrian Interim Ahmed at the Sharaa. Through a post on X of the Foreign Minister, Israel Katz, Jolani (old battle name of the president, editor’s note) was called “a jihadist terrorist of the Al-Qaeda school”. Katz, has also warned that “Israel will defend himself from any threat from Syria, will remain in the safety areas and Mount Hermon and will protect both the communities of Golan and Galilee and the local drusa population”.

Even the Secretary General of UNRWA, Philippe Lazzarini, intervened on the complicated situation of the country, announcing that an agency’s official was killed in the ongoing clashes. The UN, through its correspondent for Syria, Geir Pedersen, has expressed concern about the news of clashes and murders in the coastal areas between the forces of the Syrian provisional authority and militants faithful to the regime of the deposed president Bashar al-Assad. It is necessary, stressed, “that all parties immediately show moderation and total respect for the principle of protection of civilians in line with international law”.