Syria’s newly established authorities have initiated a security operation in a coastal region where 14 policemen were killed in an attack, pledging to target “remnants” of the ousted Bashar al-Assad regime allegedly responsible for the violence.
The unrest in Tartous province, a coastal area home to many Alawite members of Assad’s sect, marks the most significant challenge so far to the Sunni Islamist-led authorities that overthrew him on December 8.
Under Assad’s rule, the Alawite minority, a Shi’ite Islam offshoot, held significant influence, dominating security forces used to suppress opposition during the 13-year civil war and decades of authoritarian rule.
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According to state news agency SANA, security forces launched the Tartous operation to “restore security, stability, and civil peace” and to eliminate “remnants of Assad’s militias hiding in the woods and hills.”
The government crackdown coincided with warnings about attempts to incite sectarian tensions after a social media video from late November showed an Alawite shrine burning in Aleppo. The interior ministry attributed the violence to unidentified groups and emphasized efforts to safeguard religious sites.
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, HTS, a former al-Qaeda affiliate leading the new government, has vowed to protect minority groups, but fears persist among minorities, including Christians, that the Islamist-led authorities might impose strict governance.
In a predominantly Alawite neighborhood in Damascus, Sheikh Ali Dareer reported incidents of vandalism and beatings targeting people based on their religious identity, despite HTS’s assurances of respect for the sect. Dareer suggested that a “third party” could be stoking discord and urged commitment to peace.
HTS fighters denied involvement in recent incidents, including reports of Alawites being removed from buses and assaulted, dismissing such acts as attempts at provocation.
Taher Dawwa, a 38-year-old former military volunteer under Assad, urged unity, stating, “The mistakes of the past cannot be blamed on one sect. We must reject division.”
Sectarian tensions have deepened over the years, as Assad’s forces relied on Shi’ite militias mobilized by Iranian support to combat predominantly Sunni-led insurgents.
Protesters in Tartous were seen chanting “Oh Ali!” during a rally outside local government offices, referencing Ali ibn Abi Talib, a figure revered in Alawite and Shi’ite Islam.
Mohammed Othman, the new governor of Latakia province, met with Alawite leaders to promote community unity and peace, according to SANA.
The Syrian information ministry has prohibited media content with sectarian undertones, emphasizing the importance of avoiding divisions. Meanwhile, Iran, a key ally of Assad’s former government, has voiced criticism of the recent developments.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei urged Syrian youth to resist instability, predicting the emergence of a resilient group in the country. However, Syria’s new foreign minister, Asaad Hassan al-Shibani, warned Iran against meddling and held them accountable for recent remarks that could spark chaos.
Crediblenewsng.com
