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  Survivors and victims of revenge attacks in Syria have shared with Sky News their accounts of families being "slaughtered" amid a surge of violence. Following a period of relative calm lasting three months, there have been attacks in the Latakia region involving fighters still loyal to the ousted President <strong><a href="https://news.sky.com/topic/bashar-al-assad-6357/1" target="_blank">Bashar al Assad</a></strong> and forces aligned with <strong><a href="https://news.sky.com/topic/syria-5678" target="_blank">Syria's</a></strong> new rulers.

The recent violence includes a campaign targeting Syria’s Alawites, which was sparked by an assault on the new government forces by Assad loyalists.

Sky News chief correspondent Stuart Ramsay has been gathering the initial accounts of what happened in the Syrian cities.

Who are the Alawites?

The Alawites are a religious minority in Syria that traces its origins to Shia Islam – the second-largest branch of Islam following Sunni Islam.

They constitute approximately 10% of Syria’s populace – which is predominantly Sunni – and mainly reside in the coastal areas of the country.

What were Assad’s ties to the Alawites?

The overthrown President Bashar al Assad belongs to the Alawite sect.

During his rule, the Alawites made up a significant portion of his support base and held key positions in the military and security agencies.

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