US expresses concern over violence against minorities in Syria
3 Min Read
US officials have expressed their concerns regarding attacks and violence against minority groups in Syria, stressing that such actions must cease.
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A member of the security forces of the newly formed Syrian government looks on as members of Bashar al-Assad's army line up to register as part of an "identification and reconciliation" process in Damascus, Syria, December 30, 2024. (AP)
The US has expressed concerns to Asaad Hassan al-Shaybani, the new foreign minister of Syria's transitional administration, about recent reports of violent attacks by militant groups across the country, according to US officials.
It is worth noting that the Assad regime's collapse after five decades in power and over 13 years of war has left Syria severely fragmented, with numerous armed groups and deep-seated grievances prompting US officials to worry that violent reprisals by militants aligned with the victorious rebels, particularly targeting minority groups or former regime affiliates, could derail stabilization efforts, according to Axios.
This comes as armed clashes broke out last week in Tartus between militants linked to the Assad regime and police forces aligned with the new administration, resulting in the deaths of 14 policemen and several militants, according to the Syrian interior ministry.
Tartus and the surrounding coastal region are predominantly Alawite, a minority Islamic sect comprising about 10% of Syria's population. Many members of the ousted ruling elite, including the Assad family, belong to this sect. Concerns are growing among Alawites, as well as Kurdish and Druze minority groups, about the possibility of being targeted under the new administration.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that "14 members of the General Security force" under Syria's new authorities were killed, along with "three armed men" in Khirbet al-Maaza, bringing the death toll up from an earlier count of nine.
The Observatory added that the forces were attempting to arrest an officer who was among "those responsible for the crimes at Saydnaya prison."
Circulating social media videos allegedly show militants associated with HTS or the new government’s security forces mistreating Alawite men during arrests, including acts of beating, verbal abuse, and humiliation, along with explicit threats against the Alawite community.
While Axios reviewed some of these videos, their authenticity remains unverified. The US State Department has acknowledged awareness of these incidents and is investigating the reports.
HTS 'not involved in violence'
On Sunday, State Department envoy Daniel Rubinstein visited Damascus and met with al-Shaybani, according to two US officials who spoke to Axios.
Rubinstein expressed US concerns over reports of violence, retribution, and intimidation against minorities, emphasizing that such actions must cease. Al-Shaybani stated that the transitional administration opposes such violence and attributed most of it to other armed groups rather than HTS.
A US official told Axios that al-Sharaa and the transitional administration are working to stabilize the situation by de-mobilizing militias and incorporating them into a unified Syrian army.
The official underscored the urgency for the new Syrian administration to address these issues, warning that continued violence could escalate internal tensions and provide an opening for Assad-affiliated groups or ISIS to ignite a new conflict in the region.
Read more: Syrians remain concerned about extremist factions within HTS: VOA
