Post-Assad Syria: Over 1,700 Alawites Killed in Sectarian Attacks as HTS Assumes Control

Syria has witnessed a significant surge in sectarian violence since the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime in late 2024, with reports indicating over 1,700 Alawite civilians killed by March 2025. The violence, predominantly in the coastal provinces of Latakia and Tartus, and parts of Hama, has targeted religious minorities including Alawites, Christians, and Druze. This comes as the Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)-led transitional government, under interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa, seeks to establish control across the nation.

Human rights organizations, including the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) and the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), have documented widespread killings. USCIRF's report noted between 1,700 and 2,246 confirmed Alawite deaths by March, often through "door-to-door interrogations and select executions" based on sectarian affiliation. SOHR director Rami Abdurrahman described the events as "one of the biggest massacres during the Syrian conflict," with hundreds of Christians also reported among the casualties.

The violence has been attributed to a complex interplay of factors, including clashes between Syrian government forces and remnants loyal to the former Assad regime. However, reports also highlight actions by HTS-affiliated militias and other armed groups. For instance, the USCIRF report noted that HTS members, many with foreign fighter backgrounds, engaged in mass killings against religious minorities during and after the overthrow of Assad.

Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who previously led HTS, has publicly vowed to protect minorities and launched an investigation committee into the incidents. Despite these assurances, critics point to the inclusion of controversial figures in the new administration and a constitutional declaration that centralizes power and enshrines Islamic jurisprudence as the principal source of legislation, raising concerns about inclusivity.

The tweet by Ian Miles Cheong, stating,

"The HTS jihadists who run Syria have been conducting massacres of Druze, Christians and Alawites across the country. They were not supposed to do that following their agreements with Israel and other neighbors to not do that. Why are people upset about this," underscores the perceived betrayal of trust and the deep-seated sectarian divisions. While explicit agreements with Israel and "neighbors" regarding HTS actions are not widely detailed, Israel has previously conducted airstrikes in Syria, asserting a role in protecting the Druze community.

International bodies and governments have condemned the escalating violence. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the U.S. "stands with Syria's religious and ethnic minorities" and called for accountability. The United Nations Human Rights Office has urged independent investigations into reports of targeted killings, emphasizing the need to protect civilians. The ongoing instability and sectarian targeting pose significant challenges to Syria's transition towards a stable and inclusive future.