Is Syria’s Islamist Government Turning Against the Alawites?
As Damascus fell under the control of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, a former jihadist faction now rebranded as Syria’s new rulers, some hoped the country might finally emerge from its long nightmare. The civil war was over, Assad was gone, and the new government spoke of reconciliation and democratic transition. Everything seemed promising—but within months, sectarian divisions, far from fading, had only deepened. The Kurds remained locked in uneasy negotiations over their hold on northeastern Syria. Christians, their numbers already dwindling, watched warily from the sidelines. But it was the Alawites—the sect once represented by Assad—who found themselves most at risk.
Reports describe a brutal crackdown by the Islamist-led government against Alawites, with thousands killed, systematic torture, and sexual violence carried out under the pretext of rooting out traitors. Videos and eyewitness accounts depict mass executions and forced expulsions. Yet Syrian officials, in statements reminiscent of past regimes, insist that Alawite factions were the true instigators of the violence, provoking the clashes that have since spiraled into bloodshed.
Latakia Violence
More than 1,000 people, including 745 civilians, have been killed in two days of clashes in Latakia, the western coastal region of Syria. The violence erupted as Syrian security forces battled fighters loyal to the former Assad regime, followed by a wave of revenge killings that has deepened fears of sectarian bloodshed, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
The UK-based monitor reported that 745 civilians were executed, while 125 security personnel and 148 Assad loyalists also lost their lives. Some reports suggest the death toll may be even higher.
According to The Guardian, the fighting began on Thursday when Assad loyalists ambushed security forces in Jableh, a city in Latakia province. Meanwhile, some Arab media outlets have reported an Alawite rebellion, while pro-Alawite social media accounts claim that Syrian opposition forces were the true instigators, carrying out raids and executions targeting Alawites.
Damascus Turns to Iron Fist?
To suppress the rebellion, the Syrian government called for reinforcements, leading to the deployment of thousands of fighters to the country’s coastal region. While these forces officially operate under the new Syrian government, militias—some with histories of human rights abuses—continue to act with little oversight or discipline.
The government has attributed civilian killings to “Individual Actions” and claimed that the influx of fighters has contributed to human rights violations. In a speech on Friday, President Ahmad al-Sharaa vowed that “anyone who harms civilians will face severe punishment.” However, on the ground, serious crimes against civilians persist, with Syrian forces themselves implicated in the violence.
Videos circulating online reveal fighters in security uniforms executing captives at point-blank range, forcing men to bark like dogs, and brutally beating detainees. In the town of al-Mukhtariya, footage shows dozens of civilians lying dead, with the Syrian Network for Human Rights reporting that at least 40 people died in a single incident.
Alawites in Uncertainty
Though most Alawites had no direct ties to the Assad regime, they are now being targeted and punished for his legacy. Syria’s new authorities assured the Alawite community of their safety, promising that there would be no acts of revenge. Yet that promise has proven hollow, offering no real protection. The recent killing of hundreds of Alawite civilians by government security forces has only intensified fear among the community.
Reports of atrocities continue to surface. Alawites who spoke to the Media recounted the murder of family members, widespread looting, and deteriorating conditions in Alawite neighborhoods. They described a dire situation—no water or electricity for more than 24 hours, armed factions killing indiscriminately, and corpses piling up in the streets. Many see these actions as collective punishment, deepening the community’s sense of uncertainty and dread.
Syria Unfixed
The scale of violence against Alawites was unexpected, raising fears that Jolani is reverting to his old ways—those of an Islamist extremist. This resurgence has unsettled Syria’s minorities, with Christians growing increasingly anxious and the Kurds facing a decisive choice: to resist and risk prolonging the conflict or to negotiate and shape Syria’s fragile transition. Beyond political survival, Syria’s new rulers must also contend with the pressing need to secure international funding for the country’s post-war reconstruction. For international backing, Jolani may attempt—or at least pretend to attempt—to curb escalating violence and include Alawites who opposed Assad in the new government.
Political experts stress that a genuine commitment to transitional justice and inclusive governance is critical to preventing Syria from sliding back into chaos. As the country’s transitional authorities prepare to announce a new government this month, its composition will be closely scrutinized, particularly for its treatment of Syria’s religious and ethnic minorities in light of the recent bloodshed.
