More than 1,000 individuals, including 745 civilians, lost their lives in the span of two days due to clashes between Syrian security forces and loyalists of the ousted Assad regime, followed by acts of retaliation, as reported by a war monitoring organization. This tragic event marks one of the highest casualty rates in Syria since 2011.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a monitor based in the UK, provided detailed figures stating that 745 civilians were victims of mostly execution-style killings, while 125 security forces and 148 Assad loyalists perished. Estimates of the death toll from these confrontations have varied significantly.
These violent events commenced on Thursday after fighters loyal to the Assad regime ambushed security forces in Jableh, located in the coastal Latakia province. This wide-scale, coordinated assault represented the most significant challenge faced by the country’s Islamist authorities since opposition fighters, led by the Islamist rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, overthrew Syrian President Bashar al-Assad three months earlier.
In response to the uprising, the Syrian government sought reinforcements, amassing thousands of fighters from across the nation to converge on the Syrian coast. Despite these fighters operating under the new Syrian government’s banner, some have background involvement in past human rights abuses and often lack discipline.
The government alleged that “individual actions” led to civilian casualties and contended that the influx of fighters to the coast resulted in breaches of human rights. The newly appointed Syrian President, Ahmad al-Sharaa, vowed severe punishment against anyone harming civilians during his speech.
Disturbing videos surfaced showing numerous civilians killed en masse in al-Mukhtariya, a town where over 40 lives were lost. Other footage displayed fighters in security uniforms carrying out executions at point-blank range and subjecting captives to cruel acts. The Guardian could not independently verify these recordings.
The Syrian coast is predominantly inhabited by the minority Islamic Alawite sect, from which the deposed President Assad derives. Though the Alawites were not predominantly linked to Assad’s regime, the recent killings, mainly targeting Alawite civilians, have spread fear throughout the community.
Authorities assured the Alawite population of their safety and pledged to prevent any acts of vengeance. However, the recent killings of hundreds, mainly Alawites, have shattered this sense of security.
In the town of Snobar, Latakia, a local recounted how gunmen slaughtered at least 14 neighbors, all members of the Arris family, including a 75-year-old father and his three sons, in front of their mother. Additional accounts highlighted the dire conditions, such as power and water outages, causing civilians to shelter in fear due to the presence of militants.
The UN envoy for Syria, Gier Pedersen, called for the protection of civilians, while France condemned the violence and urged Syria’s authorities to ensure independent investigations and the punishment of those responsible.
Rights groups emphasized the importance of a genuine commitment to transitional justice and the establishment of an inclusive government to prevent Syria from descending further into violence. The new government, to be announced later this month, will face close scrutiny to ensure it represents Syria’s diverse religious and ethnic composition, especially considering the recent violence.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/09/more-than-1000-people-killed-in-two-days-of-clashes-in-syria-war-monitor-says
