Hundreds of demonstrators took to the streets in Syria’s northeastern cities of al-Hasakah (Hesekê) and Qamishli (Qamişlo) on Tuesday, condemning military operations in the country’s coastal regions that have reportedly led to mass killings of Alawite civilians. Protesters carried banners and images of victims, demanding accountability and international intervention as concerns over escalating violence grow.
The demonstrations come amid an intensified security crackdown in western Syria, where authorities claim to be targeting armed groups. However, activists report that civilians, including children, have been caught in the crossfire. The growing death toll has fuelled outrage, with many blaming both domestic and foreign actors for exacerbating sectarian tensions in the war-torn country.
Kobani (Kobanê), al-Hasakah (Hesekê), Qamishli (Qamişlo), al-Malikiyah (Dêrik) and other cities in NE Syria's autonomous region saw thousands of Kurds take to the streets on 11 March in protest at the massacres targeting Alawites in the west of the country.
“This is not just a military operation; it is the systematic targeting of civilians,” said protester Azeddine Kado. “Those responsible must be held accountable.” Another demonstrator, Hajar Mohammed, decried the increasing humanitarian toll, asking why it was that homes and schools had become targets.
The Women’s Council of northern Syria’s Democratic Union Party (PYD) also condemned the attacks, calling them a violation of international law. PYD official Huriya Shemdin urged global action, warning that continued impunity would push Syria deeper into instability. “Targeting women and children in conflict zones is a war crime,” she said. “The international community must not ignore these atrocities.”
International solidarity protests were also led by the Union of European Democratic Forces (UEDF), with demonstrators in Winterthur, Switzerland, condemning what they described as massacres carried out by a jihadist group affiliated to Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and controlling parts of Syria’s northwest. Protesters accused Turkey of backing extremist factions responsible for the killings, activist Halil Süren saying, “Since the start of the Syrian conflict, the Turkish government has systematically armed and supported groups targeting Alawites, Kurds and other minorities.”
Similar protests occurred in the Turkish cities of Adana and Hatay, where Alevi organisations and political parties condemned what they called ongoing genocide against Syria’s Alawite communities. At a gathering in Adana, Hamit Karaoğulları, head of the Arab Alawite Solidarity Association, said, “May those who seek to erase our people be cursed.” Adana Alevi Platformu (Adana Alevi/Alawite Platform) spokesperson Hüseyin İncesu questioned the role of international powers, stating, “Has your systematic targeting of Alawites reached its goal? Are your consciences clear?”
Yakup Ataş, head of the Adana branch of Turkey’s Human Rights Association (İHD), called for a strong response. “Genocide and massacres are crimes against humanity, no matter where they occur or who the victims are,” he said. “It should not take being Alevi or Kurdish to speak out; it is enough to be human.”
Hatay, home to a significant Alawite population, also saw protests, with demonstrators gathering in Samandağ’s Abdullah Cömert Square. Participants carried banners reading, “Stand together against massacres,” and called for immediate action to stop the violence.
Kurds and their allies have announced further protests in Swiss cities, including Geneva, Basel, Zurich, Bern and Chur, scheduled for 12 and 13 March. Demonstrators plan to march to symbolic locations such as the United Nations headquarters in Geneva, demanding global attention to the crisis.
As calls for accountability grow, analysts warn that failure to address civilian suffering could fuel further unrest and deepen divisions in Syria. With no clear resolution in sight, the fate of Alawite communities hangs in the balance, as civilians continue to bear the brunt of the ongoing conflict.
