Western Syria is witnessing an escalating humanitarian crisis, as reports confirm a sharp rise in civilian casualties. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) has reported 745 civilians confirmed dead as violent clashes continue between security forces and Assad loyalists. Since Thursday, at least 1,018 people, mainly Alawites, have been killed, including at least 125 security personnel and 148 Assad loyalist fighters.
The chaos, unfolding in regions such as Latakia, Tartus and Homs, has evoked painful memories of past sectarian conflicts and the brutal reign of ISIS. The attacks, led by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) under the command of the interim government of Ahmed al-Sharaa (aka al-Julani), have particularly targeted Alawite and Christian communities, sparking concerns of a broader sectarian war. The resurgence of violence mirrors past massacres and raises fears of an expanding crisis engulfing more communities.
This escalation follows recent waves of violence in Syria’s coastal provinces, where Alawite resistance against HTS rule has intensified. Insurgent forces, led by Alawite and former senior commander in the Syrian Army Brigadier General Ghyath Suleiman Dala, have launched coordinated operations, capturing strategic areas in the coastal regions around Latakia, Tartus and Baniyas. Reports indicate that at least one airfield in Latakia has fallen to insurgents, further destabilising the region.
The interim HTS-led government, backed by Turkey, has been accused of excluding Alawites, Druze and Kurds from national decision-making processes, deepening sectarian divisions. The targeting of Alawite civilians and religious sites by HTS-affiliated factions has fuelled resentment, echoing concerns raised by the Kurdish-led Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES).
Ilham Ahmed, a senior Kurdish politician in the AANES, has expressed grave concern over the ongoing crisis, warning that innocent civilians, and especially women and children, face imminent danger. “Protecting civilians and pursuing peaceful solutions through dialogue are essential,” she said. She stressed that all Syrians have suffered from injustice and that historical divisions should not be used to justify further bloodshed.
“The former regime’s legacy of division must not justify collective punishment. We urge Syrians to embrace dialogue and call on Damascus to halt its advance immediately, as continued violence will only deepen tragedy and division.”
Ahmed’s remarks echo growing fears that the current violence could spiral into an uncontrollable crisis, further entrenching sectarian divisions and worsening the already dire humanitarian conditions in Syria.
Turkey’s role in the conflict has drawn criticism, with the country’s opposition leader Özgür Özel urging Ankara to engage in dialogue with Damascus to prevent further massacres. “The Turkish government must take decisive action to prevent civilian deaths,” he said, calling on the Turkish authorities to prioritise regional stability over short-term political interests.
Amid Syria’s mounting unrest, al-Sharaa has sought support from neighbouring countries to stabilise his government. On Tuesday, he met Arab leaders in Cairo, warning that Israel’s actions pose a direct threat to Syria’s sovereignty and regional stability, urging the international community to push for an Israeli withdrawal from southern Syria.
Meanwhile, in Amman, foreign and defence ministers, intelligence chiefs and military officials from Turkey, Jordan, Iraq and Syria are holding high-level talks on regional security and counterterrorism. This meeting, marking the first multilateral summit of its kind, is expected to address coordination against insurgent groups and criminal networks, as well as broader regional developments.
As the violence intensifies, humanitarian organisations have struggled to access affected areas, raising fears of a worsening crisis. The international community has yet to take decisive action, but with civilian casualties mounting and sectarian tensions reigniting, urgent intervention is needed to prevent further atrocities.
