Syrian security forces and their allies have killed over 300 Alawite civilians in recent days, amidst confrontations with militants supporting former president Bashar al-Assad’s regime, war monitor reports.
Restoring security has been one of the most complex tasks for Syria’s new government after Islamist-led forces booted out Assad in a brutal offensive in December.
They are now facing their fiercest attacks yet by members of the Assad clan’s Alawite minority and have launched a major counter-operation in the ethnic group’s Mediterranean heartland triggered by deadly clashes on Thursday.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based monitor of unclear funding, reports that “311 Alawite civilians were killed in the coastal region… by security forces and allied groups” since the clashes started, bringing the overall death toll to 524 people, including 213 security operatives and militants.
On Friday, Isreali Defense Minister Israel Katz lashed out at Syria’s Islamist rulers, calling the country’s new president an al-Qaeda terrorist. His comments came after the reports of the executions.
“[Abu Mohammed] al-Julani switched his robe for a suit and presented a moderate face,” Katz said in a statement, using the nom de guerre of interim Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa.
“Now he’s taken off the mask and exposed his true face: A jihadist terrorist of the al-Qaeda school who is committing horrifying acts against a civilian population.”
“Israel will defend itself against any threat from Syria,” Katz added, while vowing the military would continue to occupy a buffer zone along the border and keep working to keep southern Syria demilitarized.
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