Syria’s New Government Targets Assad Supporters, Resulting in Hundreds of Civilian Deaths
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has reported that around 745 civilians were killed in the recent days as the new Syrian government takes control of the northwest.
Syria’s Alawite communities are preparing for potential reprisals by the country’s new de facto leaders. Reports indicate that the forces of the new government have conducted a crackdown across northwest Syria, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of civilians since earlier this week.
The exact number of casualties cannot be independently verified and may continue to rise as the new Syrian government’s forces establish control over the coastal northwest region.
The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which has been monitoring the country since the civil war began in 2011, has reported that over 1,000 people have been killed in the recent violence, including 745 civilians. The observatory also noted that 125 fighters aligned with the new government and 148 fighters aligned with former Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad have been killed.
There are also reports of hundreds of civilians, mainly women, children, and the elderly, seeking refuge at a Russian military base in Hmeimim. Despite Assad’s ouster, Russia has maintained a military presence in Syria and supported him throughout the civil war.
The new Syrian government officials have acknowledged violations during operations in northwest Syria, attributing them to unorganized groups of civilians and fighters who either supported government forces or carried out reprisal attacks amidst the unrest.
Interim curfews were implemented in parts of Latakia and Tartus starting on March 7.
