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Since early 2025, Syria has witnessed a dangerous escalation in sectarian violations and repressive practices in several provinces, primarily the Syrian coast, Homs, and the rural areas of Hama. Reliable reports have documented massacres, killings, and kidnappings targeting Alawites, alongside a rise in deliberate fires and sectarian bombings against Christians, amid official neglect and a lack of fair investigations or serious accountability.

March 7-8 Massacres: Official Silence and Calls for International Investigation

Reports by Reuters and DW Arabic revealed horrific massacres committed against Alawite civilians in the Lattakia countryside on March 7-8, 2025, killing dozens of women and children. Testimonies and aerial images implicate armed groups operating under the de facto authority.

According to a Reuters investigation published on June 30, a total of 1,479 Alawite civilians were documented killed in these massacres across more than 40 locations, based on field interviews, family testimonies, satellite imagery, and field footage, making it one of the largest sectarian massacres since the start of the Syrian conflict.

Although a commission of inquiry was formed by the transitional phase leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, nicknamed “al-Julani,” no official results have been published as of this report’s writing, raising serious doubts about the committee’s independence and transparency.

Targeting Women: Kidnappings and Killings Amid Impunity

A Reuters report documented dozens of abductions and killings of Alawite women and girls in Lattakia, Tartous, and Homs since the start of the year. Some women reappeared after ransom payments, while the fate of others remains unknown, amid official silence.

Fires on the Coast: Responsibility Accusations and Militant Claim

The fires in the Syrian coastal mountains have burned large areas of forests and homes, forcing hundreds of families to flee their villages.

Despite the participation of firefighting teams from neighboring countries, the fires remain active at the time of writing this report, with no official announcement on the investigation’s results.

Notably, the militant group “Ansar al-Sunna” claimed responsibility for some of the fires on their Telegram channels, a claim that has stirred controversy, especially amid clear sectarian escalation and widespread massacres targeting Alawite civilians.

#FromTheSouth News Bits | Middle East: Social organizations alert that some 75 percent of the Syrian population needs humanitarian aid because of the economic and social crisis affecting the country after years of wars. pic.twitter.com/xO4eLk7yuP

— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) July 11, 2025

Forced Displacement Extends to Homs and Rural Hama

Local reports and Syrian human rights organizations indicate a rising trend of forced displacement targeting Alawites in multiple neighborhoods of Homs city (Karm al-Luz, Wadi al-Dhahab, Al-Nozha), as well as villages in rural Hama, where repeated violations including killings, arrests, and enforced disappearances have been documented, forcing residents to flee towards the coast or Lebanon.

Church Bombing in Damascus Opens New Front Against Christians

On June 22, 2025, a terrorist bombing struck the Mar Elias Greek Orthodox Church in Damascus, killing 25 and injuring over 60.

The attack, carried out by a suspected suicide bomber affiliated with ISIS, occurred during Sunday Mass, evoking memories of attacks on churches in the early years of the war.

The incident sparked widespread anger among the Christian community, leading to demonstrations in Damascus demanding protection and accountability for the security breach.

European Report Sounds Alarm on Minorities

Coinciding with this escalation, the European Union issued a report on July 8, 2025, calling for:

 • Transparent and independent investigations into attacks on minorities.

 • Protection of Christian, Alawite, and Druze places of worship.

 • Accelerating transitional justice and holding perpetrators of sectarian crimes accountable.

The EU External Action Service emphasized that ongoing violations without accountability threaten any real peace process in Syria.

Lack of Justice and Media Suppression

The de facto authority in the coast and central Syria imposes strict media censorship, preventing journalists and activists from documenting violations. Independent international organizations are also barred from access, leaving civilians without legal or media protection amid ongoing impunity.

In Summary

Between mass massacres, deliberate fires, sectarian bombings, and forced displacement, Syria stands on the brink of a new internal civil explosion. The transitional authority’s disregard for investigation outcomes, coupled with policies of silence and cover-up, threaten to entrench a culture of impunity.

The international community, especially the European Union, is now more than ever called upon to support independent investigations and ensure urgent protection for civilians, particularly minorities facing systematic targeting.

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