Death toll in Syrian coast massacres rises to 1,500+ and counting
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Although the Syrian Ministry of Defense announced the conclusion of what it dubbed "military operation" on the Syrian coast, massacres have continued, claiming the lives of hundreds in the past two days.
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Burnt cars remain in an open garage following the recent wave of violence along the Syrian coast, Jableh, Syria, March 10, 2025 (AP)
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) announced on Saturday that the death toll of the massacres along the Syrian coast has exceeded 1,500 civilians killed since March 6.
According to the observatory, attacks by Syrian Security Forces and Defense Ministry units on Alawites in the Syrian coast have killed over 1,500 civilians, many of whom were killed inside their homes or in their agricultural fields in the provinces of Latakia, Tartus, Hama, and Homs.
In addition, the observatory said it documented two massacres on Thursday in Latakia and Tartus, which killed 24 civilians of the Alawite minority, while another 93 civilians fell victim to massacres in the Tartus, Latakia, Hamas, and Homs governorates on Wednesday.
The SOHR has raised concerns over the burial of victims in mass graves along the Syrian coast, warning that these sites could later be used as a tool for propaganda, shaping narratives that align with specific political and humanitarian agendas and potentially leading to accusations against so-called remnants of the regime for war crimes, further complicating the pursuit of justice.
Rami Abdulrahman, SOHR director, stated that the majority of the deaths resulted from field executions targeting the Alawite minority, noting that “these were not random acts of violence but systematic executions,” and the number of casualties is expected to rise further as documentation continues.
The observatory emphasized the risk of obscuring the reality of massacres committed against unarmed civilians from the Alawite community while pointing out human rights violations committed by security forces and the Syrian Defense Ministry personnel through forcibly displacing citizens and burning houses.
Violence in Syria 'reaches a conclusion'
Violence across Latakia and surrounding areas spread following clashes between government security forces and fighters allegedly affiliated with the former regime of Bashar al-Assad, a war monitor reported on March 7.
The Syrian Ministry of Defense announced that the "military operation" on the coastal line has been concluded on March 10, claiming that it eradicated the former regime's cells and members across Tartus and Latakia, noting that an alleged investigation was underway to look into the recent events and ensure justice for the victims.
Local sources reported that tensions in the Syrian coastal region have started to ease as a UN mission commenced its tour from the city of Jableh, noting that "a state of cautious calm prevails in several areas of Latakia's countryside, particularly with the withdrawal of foreign fighters from these areas."
A local source confirmed to Al Mayadeen that a United Nations delegation entered the city of Jableh in the Latakia countryside, Syria, for the first time on March 10, accompanied by members of the new regime's General Security as they toured the neighborhoods, inspecting shops and homes that were recently looted and burned.
Syria’s transitional leader, Ahmad al-Sharaa, pledged on Sunday to hold accountable those responsible for the violent clashes between militants allegedly linked to ousted President Bashar al-Assad and the country’s new security forces, stressing that anyone exceeding their authority will face consequences.
The attacks in northwestern Syria have displaced thousands belonging to the Alawite minority group, many of whom told The New York Times of harrowing accounts of their experience as armed forces reached their villages.
