LATTAKIA, Syria — Syrian security forces have been accused of executing dozens of Alawite civilians in the coastal province of Latakia, according to the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR).
The monitoring group reported that at least 162 civilians, including 13 women and five children, have been killed in what it described as “field executions” in the Alawite heartland.
The allegations come amid escalating violence following the ousting of former president Bashar al-Assad, who belonged to the Alawite sect.
The SOHR’s report has not been independently verified by international media, including the BBC, which highlighted the challenges in confirming the claims due to restricted access to the affected areas.
However, the group’s statements have drawn widespread concern, with the United Nations special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, expressing deep alarm.
Pedersen urged all parties to avoid actions that could exacerbate tensions and derail efforts towards a political transition.
In response to the allegations, an interior ministry source told the state-run news agency SANA that “individual violations” had occurred in the region and vowed to take measures to stop them.
Meanwhile, Syria’s new rulers, who deposed Assad in December, announced a military operation in Qardaha, Assad’s hometown, aimed at targeting loyalist fighters accused of continuing to resist the new leadership.
Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa made his first public statement since the violence began, promising to pursue remnants of Assad’s regime and bring them to justice.
“There will be accountability for those responsible for these heinous acts,” al-Sharaa said, according to Reuters.
The unrest has forced authorities to impose a curfew in several cities, including Homs, Latakia, and Tartous, where clashes between government forces and Assad loyalists have reportedly left more than 70 dead.
In addition, the governor of Latakia confirmed that power had been cut to the province as the security situation deteriorated.
Amid the chaos, Alawite residents are gripped by fear and uncertainty. A Syrian activist in Latakia, who spoke to BBC Newshour on condition of anonymity, described a community in “a state of horror” with no clear protection or support.
“They don’t know what to do. There is no government or state who is ready to help them,” he said. Sectarian tensions appear to be rising, with reports of targeted attacks against Alawite civilians.
A woman from the community told BBC Arabic that many Syrians, both on the coast and in the capital, are terrified by the rising incitement and fear being made “scapegoats” in the power struggle.
The situation has drawn international warnings, with Turkey and Russia cautioning that the violence could destabilize the broader region. Germany also urged the new Syrian authorities to prevent a “spiral of violence.”
The Alawite sect, an offshoot of Shia Islam, constitutes about 10% of Syria’s predominantly Sunni population.
The province of Latakia, a historical stronghold of the Assad family, is now at the epicenter of the unfolding conflict. As the violence intensifies, calls for accountability and restraint continue to grow, but the path forward remains uncertain.