I hoped that this was just speculation or propaganda, but unfortunately, many Syrian Alawites were massacred in the last couple of days. Here is a curation I made through Perplexity:

Unprecedented Sectarian Violence Against Minorities in Syria: March 2025 Crisis

Recent weeks have witnessed one of the deadliest outbreaks of sectarian violence in Syria since the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024. Beginning on March 6, 2025, a wave of violence has swept across Syria’s western coastal regions, primarily targeting the Alawite minority community, with some Christian civilians also among the casualties. This violence represents the most significant threat to the country’s stability since the Assad dynasty’s collapse and raises profound concerns about the future of religious minorities in the new Syria.

Scale and Nature of the Violence Against Alawites

The violence erupted on March 6 when supporters of former president Bashar al-Assad, who belongs to the Alawite minority sect, reportedly attacked security forces of the new government led by interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa. What began as armed confrontations between pro-Assad militias and government security forces quickly escalated into widespread sectarian violence targeting civilian populations611.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), a UK-based monitoring organization, at least 973 civilians have been killed in more than 20 locations across the Latakia, Tartus, and Hama governorates since the violence began15. The Syrian Network for Human Rights has documented at least 624 fatalities, while other organizations report similar numbers1. The majority of these victims were from Syria’s Alawite minority, a branch of Shia Islam that represents approximately 10% of Syria’s predominantly Sunni Muslim population26.

The violence has been characterized by its brutal and targeted nature. The United Nations human rights office reported that armed groups killed entire families, including women and children7. Thameen Al-Kheetan, a spokesperson for the Office of the UN Commissioner for Human Rights, noted that survivors recounted how “numerous men were executed in front of their families,” emphasizing that many of these “summary executions” specifically targeted individuals from the Alawite minority7. A doctor from al-Qadmus, a mountain town in Tartus province, described how “entire families were being eliminated” as militants entered homes and executed Alawites en masse1.

Impact on Christian Communities

While Alawites have borne the brunt of the violence, Syria’s Christian minority has also been affected. According to multiple sources, several Christians have been killed in the violence, though accounts differ on whether they were specifically targeted for their faith or were collateral victims caught in the broader sectarian conflict34510.

Open Doors reported the confirmed death of a Christian father and son killed for their faith on March 63. Archbishop Jacques Mourad of Homs estimated that approximately 12 Christians had died in the violence10. According to Aid to the Church in Need, a father and son who were members of an evangelical church in Latakia “were stopped in their car and killed, along with the father of a priest in Banias”10.

In his Sunday homily on March 9, Patriarch John X of the Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch stated that “many towns, villages, and neighborhoods have seen their homes burned and looted. The targeted areas were Alawite and Christian communities. Many innocent Christians have been killed”10. However, other sources have contested claims of targeted attacks against Christians specifically. Vincent Gelot, a project manager for L’Œuvre d’Orient, stated, “Christians were killed, not because they were Christians, but because they lived in Alawite neighborhoods. They were collateral victims”10.

Geographic Focus of the Violence

The violence has primarily occurred in Syria’s western coastal regions, which have historically served as the heartland of the country’s Alawite community. The governorates of Latakia and Tartus, along with parts of Hama, have experienced the worst of the bloodshed1215. These areas were strongholds of the Assad regime during its decades in power.

Residents from coastal regions described Sunni militants moving from house to house, executing residents and looting belongings1. Many frightened individuals managed to escape to neighboring Lebanon, while others sought refuge in mountainous areas, forests, and orchards1. According to local residents, thousands of people, including Christians and Alawites, have fled to nearby mountainous regions13.

Historical Context and Political Implications

The recent violence cannot be understood without considering Syria’s complex sectarian history and the recent political transition. The Assad family, which ruled Syria for over five decades, belongs to the Alawite minority. During their rule, Alawites occupied prominent positions in government and military roles13. With the fall of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024 and the rise of a Sunni Islamist government led by Ahmed al-Sharaa (formerly the leader of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, a group with historical links to al-Qaeda), the power dynamics in Syria have fundamentally shifted91112.

While al-Sharaa had publicly committed to inclusive governance and protection of minorities following Assad’s ouster, the recent violence raises significant questions about his government’s ability or willingness to control the various armed factions operating throughout the country19. According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, the recent violence included “extrajudicial, field, and mass slaughters driven by vengeance and sectarian motives”8.

Al-Sharaa has attributed the unrest to remnants of Assad’s forces, asserting they aimed to provoke sectarian discord. On Sunday, March 9, he declared that his administration would hold accountable those involved in the civilian casualties, describing the violence as “anticipated challenges”11. He stated, “No one will be above the law and all who have blood on their hands will face justice — fairly and without delay”1.

Response from Religious Leaders

The patriarchs of Syria’s three principal Christian denominations—the Greek Orthodox, Syriac Orthodox, and Melkite Greek Catholic Churches—released a joint statement denouncing the violence and “massacres targeting the innocent”13. They called for “an immediate cessation of these horrific acts, which contradict all human and moral principles”413.

The church leaders asked for the “creation of conditions conducive to achieving national reconciliation among the Syrian people”4. They also called for a “state that respects all its citizens” based on “equal citizenship and genuine partnership, free from the logic of vengeance and exclusion”4. They emphasized their commitment to “the unity of Syrian territory” and rejected “any attempts to divide it”4.

International Reaction

The international community has expressed concern about the sectarian violence. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on March 12 that the United States would closely monitor the actions taken by the interim authorities following the deaths of hundreds of civilians. He expressed Washington’s concern regarding “the recent lethal violence directed at minorities”8.

The United Nations human rights office has documented at least 111 deaths, though it acknowledged that the actual figure is thought to be significantly higher7. The organization noted that the killings appeared to have been carried out on a sectarian basis, particularly in the Tartus, Latakia, and Hama regions7.

Government Response and Investigation

The Syrian government has attempted to distance itself from the violence, attributing it to rogue elements1. The interim government has pledged to establish an independent committee to “investigate and clarify the facts” surrounding the violence and to present a report to the presidency within 30 days11. The committee’s responsibilities include uncovering the causes and conditions leading to these events, investigating violations against civilians, and identifying those responsible11.

However, witnesses reported that some of the assailants were indistinguishable from government forces, raising questions about the extent of official involvement1. The Syrian Network for Human Rights indicated that armed factions and foreign combatants affiliated with the government, but not yet fully assimilated into it, were chiefly accountable for the sectarian killings8.

Future Implications for Minorities in Syria

The recent violence has profound implications for the future of religious minorities in Syria. Many Christians are reportedly considering leaving the country, fearing further persecution34. “All Christians I know now want to leave the country,” reported a source in Syria, while another Christian expressed fear that “a time of revenge and terror might start”4.

On March 10, a group of church leaders issued a statement asking the international community “to take concrete steps” to safeguard Syria’s historic Christian communities “who stand on the brink of disappearance within the next decade”5. A believer in Latakia expressed that “there’s a feeling that no one is protecting us,” revealing “a mix of both fear and anticipation for what lies ahead in Syria”5.

The violence has also raised doubts about the new government’s commitment to protecting minority rights5. Despite al-Sharaa’s previous meetings with Christian leaders and assurances of inclusion12, the recent events have exposed vulnerabilities in the new administration’s approach to sectarian tensions.

Conclusion

The sectarian violence in Syria in March 2025 represents a critical juncture in the country’s post-Assad transition. The targeted killings of Alawites and the impact on Christian communities highlight the fragile state of religious coexistence in Syria after decades of authoritarian rule and years of civil war. While the government has promised investigations and accountability, the scale and nature of the violence raise serious concerns about the future of religious minorities in the country.

As Syria grapples with these challenges, the international community’s response and the government’s actions in the coming weeks will be crucial in determining whether the country can move toward reconciliation or faces a new chapter of sectarian conflict. For Syria’s minorities, particularly Alawites and Christians, the recent violence has shattered hopes for a peaceful transition and raised existential questions about their place in the new Syria.