Alawite Town of Salhab Devastated by Violence

The Alawite town of Salhab,located in northwest Syria,experienced a horrific massacre last week,leaving 25 residents dead. The violence is part of a larger wave of revenge attacks targeting the Alawite community, the same sect from which ousted Syrian president Bashar al-Assad hailed. These attacks underscore the deep-seated sectarian tensions that continue to plague the region, even after the change in government.

One resident, Hayan, recounted his terrifying experience when armed men stormed his house. He believed he was going to be killed, like his neighbors. Militants dragged him outside, threw him to the ground and started shooting right above his head, the report stated, adding that Hayan could no longer hear the insults they hurled at him for being Alawite. Hayan survived, but the rampage left a deep scar on the community.

among the victims in Salhab was a 90-year-old religious figure who was forced to watch the murder of his son before being killed himself. This act of brutality underscores the ruthlessness of the attacks and the targeting of vulnerable members of the Alawite community. such acts of violence are not isolated incidents but reflect a pattern of systematic targeting of specific groups.

revenge Attacks Follow Clashes with assad Loyalists

The massacres followed coordinated attacks launched by fighters loyal to Bashar al-Assad on Syrian government forces across the country’s coast on March 6. The government called for help, and thousands of armed individuals and several rebel groups responded. However,these militias carried out revenge attacks against members of the Alawite community,even though most had no connection to the former regime. This highlights the complex and often indiscriminate nature of the violence.

The four days of fighting resulted in over 1,000 deaths,including 745 civilians. Assad loyalists were also responsible for the deaths of 211 members of the Syrian security forces and 228 civilians, highlighting the widespread nature of the violence. The sheer scale of casualties underscores the urgent need for de-escalation and a comprehensive peace process.

Factions Accused of Mass Killings

Experts have identified abu Amsha’s Sultan Suleiman Shah brigade and the Hamzat division as being responsible for the majority of the killings of civilians and unarmed prisoners during the recent surge of violence. These rebel groups were previously affiliated with the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army. Both factions and their leaders are under U.S. sanctions for alleged serious human rights abuses, including rape and torture.The involvement of these sanctioned groups raises serious questions about the vetting process for integrating them into the new Syrian army.

Abu Amsha addressed the accusations in a post on X, stating that his division adhered to orders from Syria’s ministry of defence and dismissing reports of their involvement in massacres as propaganda. He further claimed that every member of his faction is subject to the law and accountability. however, these claims are contradicted by numerous reports of human rights abuses committed by his forces.

However, Fadel Abdulghany, the founder of the Syrian Network for human Rights (SNHR), paints a different picture. The vast majority of the violations were committed by Abu Amsha’s [faction] and Hamzat.Lots of residents were asking government security forces to defend them from those factions, Abdulghany stated. This testimony underscores the lack of trust in these factions and the urgent need for accountability.

Integration Challenges within the New Syrian Army

The two factions, along with dozens of other armed groups, have recently been integrated into Syria’s new army, which is led by the now-disbanded Islamist rebel group Hayat tahrir al-Sham (HTS). HTS, which led the rebel coalition that ousted the Assad regime on December 8, dissolved all armed factions and announced their integration into the new army. This integration process,though,has been fraught with challenges.

However, the government has struggled to effectively integrate these military factions and exercises limited control over them. Alexander McKeever, a researcher and author of a newsletter on northern Syria, noted that Currently it appears that the integration of SNA factions into the ministry of defence has only occurred at a symbolic level. The institutional ties are weak so HTS’s tools in terms of cracking down are limited. This lack of effective integration has created a security vacuum that allows these factions to operate with impunity.

Promises of Accountability and International Concerns

Syria’s president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, has vowed to hold accountable those responsible for the killings and abuse of civilians, regardless of their affiliation. We will hold accountable, with full decisiveness, anyone who is involved in the bloodshed of civilians, mistreats civilians, exceeds the state’s authority or exploits power for personal gain. No one will be above the law, Sharaa said.However, skepticism remains about the government’s ability to deliver on this promise.

However, doubts remain about Sharaa’s ability to hold these factions accountable, particularly given their role in bringing him to power. Failure to do so risks alienating Syrian citizens and undermining the legitimacy of the new government. The credibility of the new government hinges on its ability to deliver justice and protect its citizens.

The massacres have also raised concerns within the international community, possibly hindering efforts to lift sanctions. syria has been under U.S. sanctions since 1979, which intensified after the Assad regime’s crackdown on protesters in 2011. The new authorities have prioritized lifting sanctions to aid the ailing economy and build a functional state. The recent violence, however, complicates this effort.

Kamal Alam, a non-resident senior fellow at the Atlantic council, who advises evangelical members of the Trump team on Syria, stated that the killings of Alawite civilians deeply disturbed evangelical members of the Trump White House, who viewed the protection of Syria’s religious minorities as a key benchmark for the new government. They only have one agenda about Syria and that’s christians. They don’t care if the rest of the country goes to hell. And they were furious about what happened last week, Alam said.

Alam added that these members of the Trump administration are now seeking to broaden their focus to include the protection of all minorities in Syria, which could complicate efforts to lift U.S. sanctions. The international community is closely watching the situation and will likely demand concrete steps towards accountability and protection of minorities before considering any sanctions relief.

Mass Exodus and Lingering Fear

the violence has triggered a mass exodus, with almost 11,000 Syrians fleeing into Lebanon, according to the UN. The Alawite community is living in fear, with many afraid to leave their homes. this displacement crisis adds to the already dire humanitarian situation in the region.

Hayan, the Salhab resident who survived the attack on his home, described the atmosphere of terror: The streets are empty. No one dares go outside. All of us here cannot sleep from the fear that we will be killed in our beds. This statement encapsulates the pervasive fear and insecurity that grips the affected communities.