At least 10 people, including a 12-year-old boy, were killed in two separate attacks in Syria’s Tartus and Homs provinces on Monday, further deepening the country’s sectarian tensions.
In Tartus, unidentified gunmen opened fire in the village of Haref Nemra, in the Baniyas countryside, killing four people, including an elderly man and a child. The province’s security forces are actively pursuing the attackers, officials said in a statement.
Kamal, a resident and relative of three victims, claimed the assailants were masked and appeared to be targeting the village’s local leader. Their identities remain unknown, and the government has not provided further details on the attack.
In a separate incident, six people were killed in Homs’ Karm Al-Zeitoun neighborhood when gunmen attacked a household, killing a mother, three children, and two guests. The father was seriously wounded. The victims were from both Alawite and Sunni communities, reflecting the region’s religious diversity.
The attacks have heightened fears among Syria’s Alawite community, which has increasingly faced targeted violence. Earlier in March, coordinated Islamist-led assaults in coastal areas, including Latakia and Baniyas, reportedly killed over 1,000 Alawites and led to widespread displacements.
The international community has urged Syria’s new government to protect minorities and prevent further sectarian violence. However, tensions continue to rise as rival factions seek retribution for past atrocities.
Source: https://www.arabnews.com/node/2595498/middle-east