Syria’s Worst Violence Since Assad’s Fall Has Killed Over 1,000 People

Violence in the provinces of Latakia and Tartous has escalated, with the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reporting that 745 Alawite people have been slain in massacres.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) claims that hundreds of Alawite civilians have been slain by Syrian security forces in ongoing violence along the country’s coastal regions. According to the UK-based war monitoring group, about 30 massacres targeting the Alawite minority on Friday and Saturday resulted in the deaths of 745 civilians.

Reports suggest that **hundreds of people have left their homes in the Latakia and Tartous provinces, which are strongholds of ousted President Bashar al-Assad, who is Alawite himself. The BBC has not independently confirmed these statements.

Over 1,000 people have been killed in the last two days, according to SOHR, making this the greatest violence to hit Syria since the toppling of Assad’s government in December.

148 pro-Assad combatants and 125 members of the government security forces are among the dead.

Tensions in the war-torn country have escalated since Thursday as Islamist-led government forces and Syrian government troops and loyalist militias have been engaged in violent battles.

The state-run Sana news agency cited a spokesman for Syria’s defense ministry who asserted that following “treacherous attacks” against its security forces, the government had regained control.

However, Reuters reports that Alawite populations are terrified as a result of the increasing violence, with sizable groups seeking safety at a Russian military installation in Hmeimim, Latakia. The news agency released footage of scores of people outside the base yelling, “People want Russian protection.”

According to local media outlets, hundreds more families have also reportedly fled to Lebanon.

Geir Pedersen, the UN Special Envoy for Syria, voiced grave alarm at the “very troubling reports” of civilian deaths. In order to prevent a “credible and inclusive political transition,” he encouraged all parties to abstain from acts that would “destabilize Syria further.”

Approximately 10% of Syria’s predominantly Sunni Muslim population are Alawites, a Shiite breakaway group. Concerns regarding Syria’s precarious stability have been raised by the current bloodshed, which has increased worries of sectarian strife.