The situation in Syria has drastically escalated, with over 600 people killed in the past two days by the country’s security forces and their allies. The majority of the victims are civilians from Syria’s Alawite minority. Armed clashes erupted on Thursday and quickly spiraled into bloody confrontations, spreading across Syria’s coastal regions and the Latakia mountains. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has issued a deeply concerning statement, calling for “unimpeded access” to the affected areas so that health workers can attend to the wounded and transport the dead. This new wave of violence has sparked serious concern within the international community, once again highlighting the severity of the humanitarian crisis in Syria.
Alawite women were killed by Golani members. Videos are documented by civilians https://t.co/INFflfC2mQ
— Cultural Kaleidoscope (@Culturalscop) March 8, 2025
Mass Killings of Alawites: Clashes erupt in Syria’s coastal region.
The clashes began on Thursday between Syrian security forces and loyalists of ousted president Bashar al-Assad. The government stated it was responding to attacks from remnants of Assad’s forces and attributed the rampant violence to “individual actions.” However, eyewitness accounts and human rights organizations indicate that the violence is primarily directed against the Alawite minority, which formed the power base of $1 Assad’s regime. The revenge killings, initiated on Friday by Sunni Muslim gunmen loyal to the government against members of Assad’s minority Alawite sect, are a significant blow to Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the faction that spearheaded the overthrow of the former government three months prior.
The @ICRC is extremely concerned by the reports of violence in the coastal area of Syria. We urge all actors involved to respect civilian lives & ensure access to first responders/ humanitarian workers so they can provide medical aid & transport the wounded & dead.@SSakalianICRC pic.twitter.com/Ld3JRaphWZ
— ICRC Syria (@ICRC_sy) March 8, 2025
Rising Death Toll: Over 500 Alawite civilians killed in recent days.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported on Saturday that security forces and allied groups had killed 532 Alawite civilians in recent days, an upward revision from a previous toll of 428. In total, more than 600 people have been killed, including 120 pro-Assad fighters and 89 from security forces. Residents of Alawite villages and towns recounted to The Associated Press accounts of killings where gunmen shot Alawites, mostly men, in the streets or at their doorsteps. Two residents from Syria’s coastal region told the AP that many Alawite homes were looted and then set on fire across different areas.
Red Cross Appeal: Urgent need for humanitarian access to affected areas.
The violence on the Syrian coast on Saturday prompted the International Committee of the Red Cross to urgently appeal for safe access for health and aid workers to the affected areas, particularly in the Latakia and Tartus governorates. In a post on X, the ICRC urged all parties to “ensure unimpeded access to health care and protection of medical facilities. First responders and humanitarian workers must be allowed safe access to provide medical aid and to transport the wounded and dead.”
Volume high pic.twitter.com/HAhpdGX1sC
— Mossad Commentary (@MOSSADil) March 8, 2025
Context of the Violence: Tensions escalate after government overthrow.
Lebanese news agency AFP reports that Syrian security forces heavily deployed in the Alawite heartland on the Mediterranean coast on Saturday. This followed reports from a war monitor indicating that government and allied forces killed more than 500 civilians from this religious minority in recent days. Residents in the region continue to report civilian killings after deadly clashes erupted on Thursday between Syria’s new authorities and gunmen loyal to ousted President Bashar al-Assad, himself an Alawite. The official SANA news agency reported that security forces had been deployed to Latakia, as well as Jableh and Baniyas further south, to restore order.
International Condemnation: UN envoy decries civilian casualties, urges restraint.
The United Nations envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, condemned the “very troubling reports of civilian casualties.” He appealed to all sides to refrain from actions that could “destabilize Syria and jeopardize a credible and inclusive political transition.” Aron Lund, an expert at the Century International think tank, commented that the violence was “a bad omen.” He suggested that the new government lacks the tools, incentives, and local support base to effectively engage with disgruntled Alawites.
Challenges for New Authorities: Need to stabilize and prevent further violence.
The ongoing violence in Syria poses a significant challenge for the new authorities, who are still in the process of consolidating power and establishing control across the country. The mass killings targeting the Alawite community risk further exacerbating inter-communal tensions and triggering a new cycle of violence. The new government must take immediate steps to stabilize the situation, end the violence, and hold perpetrators accountable. The international community also has a crucial role to play in fostering peace and stability in Syria, providing humanitarian aid to those affected and exerting political pressure on all parties involved in the conflict.