A new wave of sectarian violence has struck Syria, with extremist factions affiliated with Ahmad al-Sharaa’s self-proclaimed government carrying out massacres in the Alawite-majority coastal region of Latakia.

Latest Incident in Ain al-Sharqiyah

On May 10, militants attacked the village of Ain al-Sharqiyah, near Jableh, killing at least nine civilians, including a 13-year-old child. Witnesses reported that two victims were decapitated, describing the killings as motivated by sectarian hatred.

Reports suggest the perpetrators belong to a foreign-backed faction linked to the 107th Brigade of the Ministry of Defense, allegedly affiliated with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).

Pattern of Sectarian Targeting and Forced Expulsions

The attack follows similar massacres on March 7, when more than 1,600 Alawite civilians were slaughtered, their homes looted and burned by forces aligned with the Ministry of Defense. Residents fear authorities lack control over these militias, allowing foreign-aligned factions to operate with impunity.

Meanwhile, in Homs, Adham Mukhtar Rajoub, the mayor of Al-Waer, was assassinated while driving, reportedly by government-aligned extremists linked to HTS. The persecution of Alawite communities has intensified in Damascus, where at least 50 homes in Ash al-Warwar were confiscated, and residents threatened with arrests and expulsions.

Expansion of Repressive Policies

Since HTS took power in December, Syria has witnessed a horrifying surge in kidnappings, with young Alawite women abducted and trafficked to Idlib as sex slaves. Conservative social policies have also been imposed, including mandatory rear seating for women in public transport and hijab campaigns—further deepening societal fractures.

The international community faces mounting pressure to intervene as sectarian violence, displacement, and repression worsen across Syria.

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