Syria’s interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, has pledged accountability and an investigation into the mass killings of Alawite civilians that have triggered widespread international condemnation. The violence is being described as the worst since the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
“We will hold firmly and without leniency anyone involved in the bloodshed of civilians or those who overstepped the powers of the state,” al-Sharaa declared in a video shared by state news agency SANA. He accused remnants of Assad’s regime and unnamed foreign powers of trying to stir unrest and push Syria back into civil war.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that more than 973 civilians, predominantly from the Alawite minority, were killed in “killings, field executions, and ethnic cleansing operations” carried out by Syrian security forces or pro-government fighters since March 6. Prior reports had detailed at least 830 deaths, specifically noting targeted executions in the coastal provinces of Latakia and Tartus, home to many Alawites.
Additionally, the Observatory confirmed that 125 members of the Syrian security forces and 148 Assad loyalists were killed in recent clashes. Over 300 security personnel are believed to have died in confrontations with former army members who still support Assad, leading to further disruption of public services such as electricity and water supply.
The violence, which erupted after the arrest of a wanted suspect in an Alawite-majority village, resulted in revenge killings against the Alawite community. This sect, which follows an offshoot of Shiite Islam, has been closely associated with Assad’s government and its wartime atrocities against Syria’s Sunni Muslim majority.
Damascus authorities have blamed rogue armed militias for these extrajudicial executions. However, international organizations, including the United Nations and the Arab League, have condemned the bloodshed. UN rights chief Volker Turk called for an immediate cessation of the killings, while various governments, including the United States and the UK, have demanded justice for the victims.
Meanwhile, an “independent committee” has been formed by Syria’s interim government to investigate the killings and hold those responsible accountable in court. Despite the ongoing violence, interim president al-Sharaa has urged for national unity, saying, “God willing, we will be able to live together in this country.”
Fighting between new security forces loyal to al-Sharaa and pro-Assad insurgents erupted last Thursday, with both sides continuing to clash in coastal areas. Images from social media showed security forces moving through towns like Jableh, Latakia, and Tartus, with authorities conducting “sweeping operations” to apprehend remnants of Assad’s forces.
As Syria grapples with this violence, which has resulted in the deaths of both civilians and fighters, international attention remains on the country’s fragile political transition. Al-Sharaa, in his address, vowed to restore law and order, despite the country’s ongoing instability.
In a statement, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called for accountability for those responsible for the massacres. British Foreign Secretary David Lammy echoed the sentiment, stressing that Damascus must protect all its citizens and outline a clear path toward transitional justice.
The violence marks a dark chapter in Syria’s ongoing struggles, as the country continues to recover from more than a decade of civil war and a complex web of foreign and domestic conflicts.
Source: https://www.timesofisrael.com/syria-vows-accountability-after-over-1000-reportedly-slain-in-mass-killings/