Syria’s coastal governorates of Latakia and Tartus, and parts of Homs, have become the epicentre of a renewed wave of sectarian violence, resulting in the deaths of over 1,000 people, primarily from the Alawite community. This surge in violence, which started on 6 March and escalated over the weekend, has drawn widespread international condemnation, with the United Nations, the United States, the European Union, and major human rights organisations calling for accountability and immediate intervention to prevent further atrocities.
The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that the violence began following the ambush of a security patrol near Latakia by pro-Assad loyalists, which resulted in the deaths of at least 13 police officers. This initial clash rapidly escalated into a large-scale retaliatory campaign, with coordinated attacks on Alawite villages leading to mass executions, arson and the destruction of entire neighbourhoods. Reports indicate that public spaces, including schools and hospitals, were targeted, further intensifying fears of ethnic cleansing.
SOHR Director Rami Abdulrahman described the events as “a systematic attempt to erase the Alawite presence from these regions, with the scale and brutality of the attacks indicating deliberate ethnic cleansing”.
A humanitarian worker in Tartus characterised the scene as “orchestrated slaughter”, while The Guardian noted that the nature of the attacks suggested premeditated genocide rather than the collateral damage of conventional warfare.
The United Nations has expressed grave concern over the ongoing violence. UN Secretary-General António Guterres, through his spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, called for immediate accountability, saying, “Those responsible for such violence must be held accountable. The protection of civilians and adherence to international humanitarian law must be prioritised.” High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk reinforced this stance, declaring:
“There must be accountability for these killings, many of which likely constitute crimes under international law. The world cannot stand by as entire communities are targeted for extermination.”
The United States mirrored these sentiments, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio issuing the strongest condemnation to date against Syria’s interim government. Calling the massacres “a flagrant violation of international law”, Rubio accused the administration, led by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), of “complicity in sectarian cleansing” and warned, “No government that harbours or supports such heinous crimes should expect diplomatic legitimacy or international tolerance.”
Marco Rubio further stated, “The United States will pursue all available means to ensure that those responsible—both the perpetrators on the ground and their political enablers—face justice.” Rubio urged NATO allies and the European Union to coordinate sanctions and restrict economic channels that might benefit HTS-affiliated factions. “There must be no safe haven for those who commit mass murder,” he added, continuing, “We call for urgent steps to hold those responsible accountable and to prevent further bloodshed.”
European governments have also spoken out forcefully. Germany’s Special Envoy for Syria, Stefan Schneck, called for “an end to sectarian violence and a renewed commitment to national unity, inclusive political dialogue and transitional justice.” Meanwhile, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy stressed that “the protection of all Syrians, regardless of their background, must be a priority,” and Guterres reiterated the UN’s commitment to de-escalation efforts, urging the international community to take decisive steps to prevent further atrocities.
Amid the international outcry, Turkey’s involvement in the unfolding crisis has come under sharp scrutiny. Reports from Reuters and Medya News indicate that Turkish-backed factions played a direct role in the massacres of Alawite civilians.
Intensifying clashes in Syria’s coastal provinces on 7 March highlight Alawite resistance to HTS rule, mirroring past Assad-era centralisation. Insurgents have seized key areas, prompting fears of wider conflict. The AANES urges dialogue as sectarian tensions and Turkey’s role exacerbate instability.
Among the groups named are HTS and its affiliated militias, notably the Sultan Suleiman Shah Division and the Hamza Division, both of which have a documented history of sectarian violence. These factions have previously been accused of war crimes, particularly in Afrin and other Kurdish-majority regions. Their involvement in this latest massacre has heightened fears that Turkish-backed groups are systematically targeting minority communities in western Syria.
Golani Terrorist boasts that “There was once a city called Banyas, Half Alawite and Half Sunnis, now its Half Dead and Half sunni, we killed them all, Allahu Akbar” pic.twitter.com/z4J7k14S1a
— Rūm ☦︎ن (@Syrian_Rumm) March 9, 2025
According to Mazloum Abdi, commander of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF):
“Ahmed al-Sharaa must intervene to halt these massacres. The factions responsible are supported by Turkey and Islamic extremists. This is part of a systematic campaign against Syria’s minorities.”
Meanwhile, footage has surfaced showing the perpetrators declaring their allegiance to Turkey. In one video, militants can be heard pledging to “march to the Qandil mountains”, referring to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) headquarters in northern Iraq. This indicates an intent to expand their campaign far beyond Syria’s coastal regions, raising concerns about potential escalations into Kurdish areas. Analysts warn it also aligns with past Turkish-backed offensives that have used sectarian violence as a pretext for broader military campaigns, increasing fears of regional destabilisation.
🔻 چەکدارێکی سوپای سووریای نوێ کە لە ژێر فەرمانی ئەحمەد شەرع دان دەڵێت: دوای تەواو بوونمان لە ئێرە و لەناو بردنی بەرازەکان (ناوچە عەلەوییەکان) دەچینە قەندیل.
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🔻 یکی از نیروهای ارتش سوریە جدید کە تحت فرمان احمد شرع هستند می گوید: بعداز اتمام کارمان در اینجا و… pic.twitter.com/936zbybBYw
— QANDIL PRESS (@QANDILPRESS) March 10, 2025
In a video recorded by Hamza Division, a militant can be heard pledging to “march to the Qandil mountains”, referring to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) headquarters in northern Iraq.
The SOHR and Human Rights Watch (HRW) have both identified HTS-affiliated factions as the primary perpetrators of these atrocities. A senior HRW researcher characterised the killings as:
“Not only a war crime but a calculated act of sectarian cleansing, intended to consolidate extremist control over Syria’s diverse communities.”
Syria’s interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa (al-Julani), has faced mounting criticism for his handling of the crisis. In a national address, he blamed the violence on “remnants of the former regime” seeking to destabilise the country. He announced the formation of an investigative committee and vowed to hold perpetrators accountable: “We will not tolerate actions that threaten our nation’s unity.”
However, scepticism remains high. Many analysts question the credibility of such investigations, pointing out that HTS factions form a crucial part of his administration. Furthermore, Turkey’s continued influence over HTS raises concerns that efforts to address the atrocities may be obstructed.
Israel has strongly condemned the escalating sectarian violence in Syria, with Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar issuing a sharp rebuke of the interim government led by HTS. Sa’ar stated,
“This weekend, the masks came off, as Jolani’s men mercilessly massacred their own people—the citizens of the so-called ‘New Syria’. Europe must not fail in reading the reality. It must wake up. It must stop granting legitimacy to a regime whose first actions—unsurprising given its well-known terrorist background—are these atrocities.”
His remarks reflect growing Israeli concerns over the destabilising effects of radical factions in Syria, particularly those receiving external backing.
In Turkey, public opinion on Ankara’s involvement in Syria’s escalating violence remains sharply divided. Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Özgür Özel has expressed deep concern over the situation, urging the Turkish government to engage diplomatically with Damascus to prevent further civilian casualties. Similarly, the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party has called for an end to Turkey’s support for groups implicated in sectarian violence. DEM Co-chairs Tülay Hatimoğulları and Tuncer Bakırhan condemned the massacres of Alawite civilians in Syria, urging the international community to take action. Meanwhile, pro-government media in Turkey have attempted to shift the blame onto pro-Assad forces, despite evidence from international human rights organisations attributing the massacres primarily to factions backed by Turkey. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has denied any direct involvement, dismissing the allegations as “baseless accusations”.
“We urge the international community to take a firm stance against the ongoing massacres in Latakia and Tartus, and stand in solidarity with the Syrian Alawite people.”
Excerpts from the statement by Co-Chairs Tülay Hatimoğulları and Tuncer Bakırhan:https://t.co/FUHVliYzNC
— DEM Party English (@DemPartyEnglish) March 8, 2025
Pro-government media in Turkey have sought to deflect criticism, arguing that the situation is too complex to attribute to Turkish intervention alone. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has denied direct involvement, but independent reports continue to suggest that Ankara has provided logistical support and allowed HTS-affiliated fighters to move across the border. Meanwhile, the state-run Anadolu Agency (AA) has attempted to shift blame onto pro-Assad soldiers, contradicting multiple human rights organisations who have attributed the massacres primarily to Turkish-backed factions.
As the violence persists, the humanitarian situation is rapidly deteriorating. Thousands of Alawite families have reportedly fled towards government-held areas, fearing further sectarian reprisals. Aid organisations are struggling to access affected regions, and international actors have yet to move beyond statements of condemnation.
HRW has issued an urgent appeal for “unhindered humanitarian access, a full-scale UN investigation, and the immediate cessation of all support to factions engaged in ethnic cleansing”.
Syrian Democratic Forces Commander Mazloum Abdi warned from Qamishli (Qamişlo) that unless perpetrators face real consequences, similar attacks could spread to Kurdish, Druze and Christian areas:
“We are facing a critical moment. If the world does not intervene, we will see more massacres, more displacement, and the erasure of Syria’s rich diversity.”
As international pressure mounts, Syria’s conflict appears to have entered an even more dangerous phase. The deepening sectarian rifts, coupled with the unchecked influence of extremist factions backed by regional powers, present an ongoing threat to stability. Without decisive intervention, the potential for further massacres remains alarmingly high.
Analysts warn that Syria’s conflict has reached a critical turning point, with deepening sectarian divisions and unchecked foreign-backed militias escalating the violence. SOHR and HRW experts stress that without decisive international intervention, the massacres will likely spread beyond the Alawite community to Kurdish, Druze, and Christian populations. The continued influence of Turkish-backed extremist factions, coupled with the interim government’s failure to rein in HTS, presents an ongoing threat to stability. Calls for immediate accountability, sanctions, and humanitarian aid have intensified, with international actors facing mounting pressure to act before Syria descends further into chaos.
