Syria has seen widespread violence against civilians in recent days. According to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), 973 civilians have been killed in attacks on Alawites in towns along the Mediterranean coast in the west of the country. Including members of the armed groups, the total number of victims is 1,300.
How does the government assess the situation?
Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Shar'a blamed "supporters of the former regime" for the attacks on government security forces. In a statement on state television, al-Shar'a stressed that firm measures would be taken against any forces that caused bloodshed among civilians.
"Today, while we are going through difficult times, the remnants of the former government and foreign supporters are trying to incite a new conflict in our country. Their goal is to divide Syria and destroy its stability," he said.
al-Shar'a also announced the establishment of an independent committee to investigate the crimes and identify the perpetrators.
Situation in Alawite areas
According to reports, hundreds of families in Alawite areas have fled their homes. Reuters reported that some have sought refuge at Russia's Hmeimim military base in Latakia. In addition to the base, many families have also fled to neighboring Lebanon.
"The violence has left the Alawite community in a terrible state," a local activist told the BBC.
According to the SOHR, the current unrest in Syria is the most intense wave of violence since the overthrow of the Assad government in December 2024. More than a thousand people have been killed in two days, including security forces and armed individuals loyal to Assad.
International response
The UN Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, has strongly condemned the violence and stressed the need to restore peace to the country. He called on all parties to refrain from actions that could destabilize it.
International observers are assessing the latest events in Syria as a serious threat to the government's ability to govern the country. Reuters writes that the new government's ability to provide inclusive governance is in doubt.
The latest events in Syria have led to serious casualties among civilians. Instability is growing in Alawite areas as the government blames Assad's supporters for the violence. The international community is closely monitoring the situation and calling on all parties to negotiate to bring peace.
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