Syrian security forces battled for a second day yesterday to crush a nascent insurgency by fighters from Bashar Al Assad’s Alawite sect, with scores reported killed as the Islamist-led government faced the biggest challenge yet to its authority.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that more than 130 people had been killed in two days of violence in the coastal region of western Syria, which is heavily populated by the members of the Alawite minority.
They included at least two dozen male residents of the Alawite town of Al Mukhtareyah killed by gunmen yesterday, the Observatory and two Alawite activists said, citing contacts in the region and video footage from the scene.
Syrian authorities said the violence began when remnants loyal to ousted leader Assad launched a deadly and well-planned attack on their forces on Thursday.
The violence has shaken interim President Ahmed Al Sharaa’s efforts to consolidate control as his administration struggles to get US sanctions lifted and grapples with wider security challenges, notably in the southwest, where Israel has said it will prevent Damascus from deploying forces.
Syrians took to the streets to rally in support of the government in Damascus and other cities, while Saudi Arabia and Turkey, both allies of the government, also signalled their backing.
Russia, which was a major backer of Assad but has sought to build ties with the new government, said it was alarmed by a deterioration in the security situation and called on all “respected” leaders of the country to stop the bloodshed.
Images from Al Mukhtareyah showed at least 20 men lying in close proximity – some bloodied – by the side of a road in the town centre. Reuters was able to verify the location in the video, but not when it was filmed or by whom.
Alawite activists said the killings were done yesterday and blamed them on gunmen affiliated with the Islamist ruling authorities.
A prominent Alawite cleric, Sheikh Shabaan Mansour, 86, was killed yesterday with his son in the village of Sahlab in western Syria. Residents accused fighters aligned with Damascus of killing him, according to two Alawites. Reuters could not verify the claims.
Syrian state news agency Sana, citing a security source, said “individual violations” had been perpetrated after unorganised crowds had headed to the coastal region following the attacks on government security personnel.
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