The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported on Saturday that over 300 Alawite civilians have been killed since Thursday by Syrian security forces and allied groups during sweeps and clashes with followers of ousted President Bashar al-Assad in the west of the country.
The clashes erupted on Thursday in the Latakia region, a stronghold of the Alawite minority from which the Assad clan hails, and are the most violent since the overthrow of the former president by a coalition of Islamist rebel groups on 8 December.
SOHR reported the death of 311 Alawite civilians in the coastal region since Thursday, citing executions and looting of homes and property. This brings the death toll from violence in western Syria since Thursday to 524, including 93 members of security forces and allied groups and 120 fighters loyal to the ousted president, according to the same source.
Restoring security in Syria is the main challenge for the new Syrian government after more than 13 years of civil war.
SOHR noted a “relative return to calm” in the region after 48 hours of clashes but specified that security forces are continuing their sweeps in areas where armed men are entrenched, with reinforcements being sent.
Syrian President Ahmad al-Chareh urged the insurgent Alawites on Friday night to “lay down their arms before it is too late.” “We will continue to work towards the monopoly of arms in the hands of the state,” he added in a speech.
Residents and organisations regularly denounce abuses such as house confiscations, summary executions, and kidnappings, which authorities describe as “isolated incidents,” assuring that those responsible are being pursued.
