New details from Reuters reveal that Syria’s new ruling authorities orchestrated brutal massacres and kidnappings of Alawite and Shia civilians in March, with women facing repeated abductions in coastal regions still happening daily.
Government Involvement in Coastal Mass Atrocities
Reuters reports that Syrian intelligence services, a militia tied to former Hayʾat Tahrīr al‑Shām (HTS), and senior Defence Ministry officials carried out mass killings in March. Around 1,500 Alawite civilians were killed in just two days, with dozens more missing.
Over ten armed groups, including foreign fighters now under the new Syrian regime’s command, participated. More than half are under international sanctions for widespread human rights violations—murder, abductions, and rape .
Notably, the former HTS militia—now integrated with Syrian internal security and law enforcement, including the 400th Division with Special Unit fighters and the Othman Brigade—has been implicated .
So have the Sultan Suleiman Shah Brigade and Hamza Division, recently incorporated into Syrian government forces .
Kidnapping of Alawite Women Continues
Since March, there have been numerous documented cases of Alawite women abducted in coastal areas. Media outlets have circulated missing person notices, photos, and videos online. According to the report, these kidnappings are happening almost daily .
Coastal Clashes and Sectarian Uprising
Tensions escalated last March on the Syrian coast following policies that provoked widespread anger among Alawites. Peaceful protests erupted in Qardaha, Jableh, Latakia, Tartus, Homs, and Masyaf .
Security forces aligned with HTS—led by Ahmed Hussein al‑Sharaa (commonly known as Abu Mohammed al‑Julani)—responded with live fire. The violence quickly spread across coastal towns (al-Haffa, al-Mukhtariyah, al-Shir), where massacres occurred, allegedly amounting to genocide. Dozens were reportedly killed.
Human Rights Committee Reports
The Syrian Human Rights Committee recorded 25 separate massacres by al‑Julani’s regime in coastal areas. A total of 2,246 Syrians were killed, and 811 related videos were documented.
From: mehr