Syria’s ruling Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) has repeatedly promised an inclusive Syria that respects all of its communities. That doesn’t appear to be working out so well for the nation’s Alawite minority though, which is coming under growing attack.
Over the weekend, gunmen from an unidentified Sunni group attacked the village of Arzah al-Dabaa. They reportedly went door to door and shot Alawites who answered the knock. At least 15 people are reported to have been killed.
Details are still emerging, but this is hardly the first time since the regime change in December that Alawites have come under direct attack. The HTS even participated in some past raids, though this incident they don’t appear to have been directly present.
The Alawites are a Shi’ite sect, and make up about 10% of Syria’s population. Former President Bashar al-Assad was an Alawite, so some who participated in the rebellion are transferring their hostility toward him to Alawite villagers, even though Assad wasn’t always particularly nice to Alawites either, and many were quite hopeful with his ouster.
At least at first. Since the regime change, there have been a lot of attacks on Alawite civilians, and the new government has shrugged them off as moves against “remnants” of Assad forces. This minority is definitely feeling at risk in the present circumstances.
Reports from the Lebanese side of the border are that Alawites in the village of Ghajar, near the Syria crossing, are increasingly concerned about the fate of their brethren inside Syria. Consistent reports of summary executions and a Syrian government run by people with historic links to al-Qaeda don’t suggest this is going to be resolved any time soon.
