-Zaina Aman
The UN Human Rights Office has raised alarm over escalating violence in Syria’s coastal areas. Reports since March 6 indicate summary executions, sectarian killings, and widespread abuses. At least 111 civilians have died in Tartus, Latakia, and Hama, but the actual toll may be much higher.
UN spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan called the attacks “horrifying.” Survivors said armed groups raided homes, asking if residents were Alawite or Sunni before deciding their fate. Entire families were massacred.
Unidentified armed groups, factions supporting the interim government, and remnants of the former regime are blamed. Armed men, allegedly linked to the former regime’s security forces, attacked hospitals in Latakia, Tartus, and Baniyas between March 6-7. Clashes with security personnel left dozens of civilians, including medical staff and patients, dead.
Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa vowed accountability, promising punishment for any perpetrator, even among his allies. The violence has deepened sectarian divisions, mainly between Sunnis and Alawites.
Under Bashar al-Assad’s rule, Alawites held key positions, fueling long-standing Sunni-Alawite tensions. The 2011 civil war worsened these divisions, making sectarian killings a major aspect of the conflict. Now, Alawite civilians face targeted retaliatory attacks, raising fears of further violence.
The UN has urged immediate action to protect civilians and prevent more bloodshed. The renewed violence threatens Syria’s fragile efforts for peace and stability.
