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Syrian security forces and affiliated fighters killed more than 340 civilians, the vast majority of them from the Alawite minority, over the last two days, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported on March 8.
The Alawites, an offshoot of Islam Shiite, are Syria’s largest minority group. The family of former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad belongs to the sect.
A rebellion broke out on the Syrian coast, the heartland of the Alawites, on March 6 following a deadly security operation in the town of Beit Aana in the countryside of Latakia, with officers from the former Syrian Arab Army leading attacks on government forces.
After initial success in Latakia, Qardaha, Jableh, Banias and Tartus, the rebels were overpowered by government forces which brought in large reinforcements and used heavy weapons overnight.
Syrian state media on March 7 cited an interior ministry source as saying “individual violations” had occurred during a government operation to crack down on rebels on the Syrian coast linked to the ousted Assad regime and said it was working to address the incidents. However, the massacres continued, according to the SOHR and other sources.
The London-based monitoring group has so far documented the following massacres against Alawite civilians:
On March 7:
- 60 civilians, including ten women and five children, were killed in Banias city;
- Seven civilians were killed between the towns of Dwear Babda and Beit Ana near Jableh;
- 24 civilians were killed in the town of al-Sheer in the countryside of Latakia;
- 38 civilians were killed in the town of al-Mukhtariyah in the countryside of Latakia;
- Seven civilians were killed in the town of al-Hafa in the countryside of Latakia;
- Two civilians were killed in the town of Yahmur in the countryside of Tartus;
- Two civilians were killed in the town of Salhab in the countryside of Hama;
- 22 civilians were killed in the town of Qurfays in the countryside of Latakia.
On March 8:
- Six civilians were killed in the town of Hrysoun near Banias;
- Three civilians in the town of Deir al-Bshel near Bansias;
- Three civilians were killed in Banias;
- 13 civilians were killed in the town of Beit Luhu near Jableh;
- Six civilians were killed in the town of Hamam Wasel near Jableh;
- Four civilians were killed in the town of Blwzah near Jableh;
- One civilian was killed in the town of Ka’abyat Farsh near Jableh;
- Six civilians were killed in town of al-Hanadi near Jableh;
- Four civilians were killed in Jableh;
- Three civilians, including a woman and a child, were killed near Jableh bridge;
- 50 civilians were killed in the town of al-Snubar near Jableh;
- 22 civilians, including three women, were killed in the town of Shrifa near Jableh;
- Seven civilians were killed in the town of al-Hafa in the countryside of Latakia;
- 31 civilians, including four women and nine children, were killed in the town of al-Twaym in the countryside of Hama.
The SOHR noted in its report that 19 more civilians were killed in other parts of the coast, without specifying exactly where.
The real death toll from the ongoing government crackdown on Alawite areas is thought to be much higher. For example, Lebanon’s Al-Mayadeen TV reported that at least 400 were killed. Activists also noted that many dead bodies remain unidentified and can’t be reached.
Russia opened its Khmeimim Air Base on the coast for hundreds of Alawites refugees and called on all “respected” leaders of the country to stop the bloodshed. Israel also slammed the Syrian government for the killings.
On other hand, most Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia, in addition to Turkey voiced their support of the Syrian government.
Meanwhile, the West, which was the biggest beneficiary from the fall of the regime of former president Bashar Al-Assad, remains silent.
The current events on the Syrian coast could have great ramification for the future of the country as a whole. Syria is now more vulnerable for foreign interventions than ever, and Israel or even the West could decide any moment to step in.
Most of northeast Syria is already outside the control of the government with United States-backed Kurdish forces in charge. Meanwhile the south is under direct Israeli influence with the Druze minority retaining autonomy in al-Suwayda. If the coast also breaks out by some foreign intervention, Syria will cease to exist as a united, centralized country.
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