In northwest Syria, escalating violence has reportedly led to the deaths of hundreds of civilians, including women and children, attributed to the armed forces under the new Syrian regime.

The recent surge in violence has resulted in an estimated death toll exceeding 1,000, amid clashes between supporters of the deposed long-term ruler Bashar al-Assad and the newly established powers.

Reports indicate that security forces associated with the Islamist transitional government have conducted mass killings targeting members of the Alawite religious minority, which includes the former president Assad.

The bloodshed reportedly began on a Thursday, following what the new authorities allege was an attack by armed supporters of the ousted Assad regime on security personnel near the coastal city of Jabla, in the predominantly Alawite province of Latakia.

Observers noted that the assaults by rebel factions appeared to be coordinated, as described by a conflict research institute.

The Alawites constitute approximately 12 percent of Syria’s population and are derived from Shia Islam, although they possess distinct beliefs and rituals.

They predominantly reside along Syria’s coastal regions, especially in the provinces of Latakia and Tartus.

The Assad family, which governed Syria for over five decades until December 2024, is part of the Alawite community.

Their tenure saw many Alawites holding significant positions within the military and government, leading to perceptions of favoritism towards the minority group.

Regarding the perpetration of the recent massacres, unverified images have surfaced depicting fighters affiliated with the Turkey-backed Syrian National Army, alongside militants bearing insignia of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the entity that has emerged as a dominant power in Syria following the collapse of the Assad regime.

Reports indicate that additional Turkey-supported militias, such as the Syrian Liberation Front — established from various Islamist factions during the Syrian civil war — have also been implicated in the violence.

The fact that numerous key figures in the prior Assad administration belonged to the Alawite minority has raised assumptions that these massacres may stem from vengeance, despite many Alawites not having played direct roles in Assad’s governance.

Eyewitness accounts describe harrowing scenes in Alawite villages where armed assailants executed civilians — primarily men — in public spaces or at their doorsteps.

Homes have been ransacked and set ablaze, while videos circulating on messaging platforms depict individuals being dragged through the streets by vehicles, leaving their status uncertain.

The city of Baniyas has experienced some of the most intense violence, with residents reporting corpses strewn across the streets and rooftops.

In some instances, armed groups obstructed locals from retrieving the bodies of their neighbors, exacerbating the tragedy in the aftermath of these brutal assaults.

Observers point out that the extreme brutality of these actions suggests a possible motive rooted in vengeance.