Massacres in Syria as Violence Escalates Between New Government and Assad Loyalists

[Social Media]

 

Syria has been plunged into some of the most brutal violence in its recent history, with more than 1,000 people killed over the course of just two days. Bloody clashes between the nation’s new rulers and loyalists of ousted President Bashar Assad have led to horrifying massacres, with reports emerging of women being forced to walk naked before being executed.

 

 

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that among the dead were 745 civilians, many of whom were victims of mass killings. Additionally, 125 government security forces and 148 militants linked to Assad’s regime lost their lives in the fierce fighting. Large areas surrounding the city of Latakia have been left without electricity and drinking water as the conflict continues to rage.

 

Jihadists in Syria are attacking the minority communities of Christians, Druze, and Alawites.

BREAKING: Jihadists in Syria are attacking the minority communities of Christians, Druze, and Alawites. pic.twitter.com/9aJ7zIYyV3

— Eyal Yakoby (@EYakoby) March 8, 2025

 

The violence, which erupted on Thursday, marks one of the deadliest escalations since Syria's conflict began 14 years ago. It also represents a significant challenge to the new government in Damascus, which has struggled to maintain control since insurgents overthrew Assad three months ago.

 

 

Witnesses have described scenes of absolute horror. Reports indicate that women were forced to strip naked and parade in the streets before being executed. The government, meanwhile, claims that its forces were merely responding to attacks from Assad loyalists and that much of the violence was the result of “individual actions.”

 

The revenge killings were carried out primarily by Sunni Muslim gunmen loyal to the new government, who targeted members of the Alawite minority, a sect that formed the backbone of Assad’s support for decades. The killings represent a severe blow to Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the faction that led the overthrow of Assad’s government.

 

 

In Baniyas, one of the worst-hit towns, residents described seeing bodies strewn across the streets, left unburied in homes and on rooftops. A resident recounted how gunmen prevented people from retrieving the bodies of five neighbors who were executed at close range.

 

“They forcibly brought people down to the streets, then they lined them up and started shooting them,” a Baniyas resident told Sky News. “They left nobody. The scene that I saw was pure horror; it’s just indescribable.”

 

Another witness, Ali Sheha, a 57-year-old Baniyas resident, said he fled with his family and neighbors as the violence intensified. He described how at least 20 of his neighbors and colleagues were killed, some in their homes, others in their shops.

 

“These are revenge killings against the Alawites for the crimes committed by Assad’s government,” Sheha said. He also noted that foreign fighters and militants from nearby villages participated in the attacks. As he fled, he saw bodies lying in the streets and gunmen roaming the city, randomly firing at homes and residents. In at least one instance, armed men reportedly demanded to see residents' identification cards to confirm their religion before executing them.

 

The head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Rami Abdurrahman, confirmed that the revenge killings had largely ceased by early Saturday. “This was one of the biggest massacres during the Syrian conflict,” he stated. While previous estimates placed the death toll at over 200, the numbers have continued to rise, though official figures have not been released.

 

Footage circulating online captures the brutal street battles, with fighters exchanging heavy gunfire. The situation has drawn condemnation from religious leaders, including Syria’s three main Christian churches. In a joint statement, the leaders of the Greek Orthodox, Syriac Orthodox, and Melkite Greek Catholic Churches condemned the violence and the targeting of innocent civilians.

 

“In recent days, Syria has witnessed a dangerous escalation of violence, brutality, and killings, resulting in attacks on innocent civilians, including women and children,” the statement read. The churches called for an end to the massacres, urging national reconciliation and a move toward a society based on equal citizenship and mutual respect.

 

The Observatory reported that 532 Alawite civilians were killed in Syria’s coastal regions and in the Latakia mountains by security forces and allied groups. The killings on the Mediterranean coast, a stronghold of the Alawite minority, have intensified the conflict between the country’s new security forces and Assad loyalists.

 

Although many of Syria’s Christians fled during the civil war that began in 2011, a small Christian community remains in Latakia, one of the areas hit hardest by the violence.

 

“The Christian churches, while strongly condemning any act that threatens civil peace, denounce and condemn the massacres targeting innocent civilians, and call for an immediate end to these horrific acts, which stand in stark opposition to all human and moral values,” the joint statement read. The leaders also called for conditions that would allow for true reconciliation among Syrians, free from vengeance and exclusion.

 

Additionally, Sheikh Hikmat al-Hajri, the spiritual leader of Syria’s Druze minority, has called for an immediate end to the bloodshed. As Syria grapples with yet another wave of horror and destruction, the world watches anxiously, hoping for an end to the seemingly endless cycle of violence.

 

Based on a report by The Daily Mail  2025-03-10

 

 

[loong]

With all the violence, savagery and death in Syria in the last decade, I don't remember any protests in the streets of western nations.
I wonder why that is.

[NickyLouie]

6 minutes ago, loong said:

With all the violence, savagery and death in Syria in the last decade, I don't remember any protests in the streets of western nations.
I wonder why that is.

 

They are openly slaughtering Christians.

 

Where is the outrage from all the Palestinian supporters ?    

[bradiston]

1 hour ago, NickyLouie said:

 

They are openly slaughtering Christians.

 

Where is the outrage from all the Palestinian supporters ?    

Who is "openly slaughtering Christians"?

[connda]

Jolani's Al-Queda/ISIS head-choppers go door-to-door murdering unarmed Christians, Druze, and Alawites, and Jolani blames it on Assad.  I've seen some of the videos (which I'm sorry I watched - I won't do that again) and it's just horrendous.  In the meanwhile, the West tacitly supports the genocide.  Hell, the UK even lifts sanctions.  "Keep killing and chopping heads! The UK/EU/US will stand behind you and sharpen your knives!"

Western Asia seems to now be the land of Western condoned genocide in the name of "Freedom", "Liberty", "Democracy", and "Western Values."  Ahhh, we truly live in freaking Hell.

[bradiston]

1 minute ago, connda said:

Jolani's Al-Queda/ISIS head-choppers go door-to-door murdering unarmed Christians, Druze, and Alawites, and Jolani blames it on Assad.  I've seen some of the videos (which I'm sorry I watched - I won't do that again) and it's just horrendous.  In the meanwhile, the West tacitly supports these genocide.  Hell, the UK even lifts sanctions.  "Keep killing and chopping heads! The UK/EU/US are behind you sharpening your knives!"

Western Asia seems to now be the land of Western condoned genocide in the name of "Freedom" and "Democracy."  Ahhh, we truly live in freaking Hell.

What a load of complete tosh.

[candide]

2 hours ago, loong said:

With all the violence, savagery and death in Syria in the last decade, I don't remember any protests in the streets of western nations.
I wonder why that is.

Because you have a bad (or selective) memory. 🤣

There had been plenty of protests against Assad, in particular after the use of lethal gas and the bombing of civilians.

[candide]

41 minutes ago, connda said:

Jolani's Al-Queda/ISIS head-choppers go door-to-door murdering unarmed Christians, Druze, and Alawites, and Jolani blames it on Assad.  I've seen some of the videos (which I'm sorry I watched - I won't do that again) and it's just horrendous.  In the meanwhile, the West tacitly supports the genocide.  Hell, the UK even lifts sanctions.  "Keep killing and chopping heads! The UK/EU/US will stand behind you and sharpen your knives!"

Western Asia seems to now be the land of Western condoned genocide in the name of "Freedom", "Liberty", "Democracy", and "Western Values."  Ahhh, we truly live in freaking Hell.

Complete B.S. 😆

[Bkk Brian]

A lot of accounts are confused about what’s happening in Syria.

The current conflict is between the new Islamist regime and the Alawites, a group of Muslims who are also Assad loyalists (Assad is religiously an Alawite).

This is a conflict between two groups of Muslims.

Are some Christians dying in the middle of this? Yes. But this conflict isn’t aimed at Christians.

If I were living in Syria as a Christian I’d certainly be terrified of this Islamic regime because I would likely find myself their next target. But that’s a separate matter. And Christians should get out of there if they can.

[Bkk Brian]

Massive protests now in London, Paris, Amsterdam and Columbia University after Jihadist regime of Ahmed Al-Sharaa slaughtered hundreds of men, women and children in Syria.

[JonnyF]

4 hours ago, loong said:

With all the violence, savagery and death in Syria in the last decade, I don't remember any protests in the streets of western nations.
I wonder why that is.

 

They don't want to disparage Syrians before they open the floodgates to all the doctors and engineers arriving on dinghys to save us from ourselves and our awful colonialist past. 

 

There's not enough jail spaces for social media posting indigenous grannies voicing opposition to it. 

[bradiston]

2 hours ago, Bkk Brian said:

Massive protests now in London, Paris, Amsterdam and Columbia University after Jihadist regime of Ahmed Al-Sharaa slaughtered hundreds of men, women and children in Syria.

Unbelievable rubbish. They're not jihadists. Neither did they slaughter 100s.  And that graphic - mind boggling!

 

[bradiston]

1 hour ago, JonnyF said:

 

They don't want to disparage Syrians before they open the floodgates to all the doctors and engineers arriving on dinghys to save us from ourselves and our awful colonialist past. 

 

There's not enough jail spaces for social media posting indigenous grannies voicing opposition to it. 

Rabid.

[Bkk Brian]

1 minute ago, bradiston said:

Unbelievable rubbish. They're not jihadists. Neither did they slaughter 100s.  And that graphic - mind boggling!

 

Feel free to post a credible link to the contrary

 

Syria’s rebel leader courted the world. Now his forces stand accused of a massacre
Government has allegedly killed 750 members of minority groups – Alawites, Christians and Druze

Sharaa’s government now stands accused of massacring members of minority groups – Alawites, Christians and Druze – in response to a series of ambushes by gunmen apparently loyal to the former regime of Bashar al-Assad.
Approximately 750 civilians have been killed, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a London-based war monitor.

https://archive.ph/vqdst

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/03/09/syria-sharaa-courted-world-forces-accused-massacre/

 

Also in the OP from "France 24"

[bradiston]

10 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

Feel free to post a credible link to the contrary

 

Syria’s rebel leader courted the world. Now his forces stand accused of a massacre
Government has allegedly killed 750 members of minority groups – Alawites, Christians and Druze

Sharaa’s government now stands accused of massacring members of minority groups – Alawites, Christians and Druze – in response to a series of ambushes by gunmen apparently loyal to the former regime of Bashar al-Assad.
Approximately 750 civilians have been killed, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a London-based war monitor.

https://archive.ph/vqdst

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/03/09/syria-sharaa-courted-world-forces-accused-massacre/

 

Also in the OP from "France 24"

Did YOU read your links? The evidence to the contrary iscthere. Where does it say it was the security forces who committed the atrocities? Everything is an unverified allegation. It has always been known there is deep deep antagonism towards the Alawites from many Syrians after what the Russian backed Alawite Assad did to the Syrian people. And who can blame them? Sharaa is doing his best to contain the inter-faith animosity, but it runs very deep. Sharaa has made a lot of progress over what many saw as insurmountable hurdles in trying to move Syria forward. Many in the West just don the blinkers and carry on screaming about head choppers and baby burners. It's revolting language. They should be prosecuted. Goebbels would have been proud of them I'm sure.

[Bkk Brian]

Just now, bradiston said:

Did YOU read your links? The evidence to the contrary iscthere. Where does it say it was the security forces who committed the atrocities? Everything is an unverified allegation. It has always been known there is deep deep antagonism towards the Alawites from many Syrians after what the Russian backed Alawite Assad did to the Syrian people. And who can blame them? Sharaa is doing his best to contain the inter-faith animosity, but it runs very deep. Sharaa has made a lot of progress over what many saw as insurmountable hurdles in trying to move Syria forward. Many in the West just don the blinkers and carry on screaming about head choppers and baby burners. It's revolting language. They should be prosecuted. Goebbels would have been proud of them I'm sure.

Yes I did and I am still waiting for a credible link to the contrary:

 

Syria’s new Islamist leader vows action after his soldiers massacre civilians

Ahmed al-Sharaa’s forces kill hundreds of civilians from minority Alawite community following ambush by insurgents loyal to ousted president Bashar al-Assad

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/syria-leader-killings-human-rights-ahmed-al-sharaa-b2711939.html

[Chomper Higgot]

2 hours ago, JonnyF said:

 

They don't want to disparage Syrians before they open the floodgates to all the doctors and engineers arriving on dinghys to save us from ourselves and our awful colonialist past. 

 

There's not enough jail spaces for social media posting indigenous grannies voicing opposition to it. 

The people imprisoned for social media posts were all inciting violence and hatred.

 

You’ve been presented with the actual court records that demonstrate that fact on multiple occasions and yet you continue to misrepresent the facts.

 

 

[bradiston]

3 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

Yes I did and I am still waiting for a credible link to the contrary:

 

Syria’s new Islamist leader vows action after his soldiers massacre civilians

Ahmed al-Sharaa’s forces kill hundreds of civilians from minority Alawite community following ambush by insurgents loyal to ousted president Bashar al-Assad

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/syria-leader-killings-human-rights-ahmed-al-sharaa-b2711939.html

The Independent has no verifiable sources to support the claim. It claims "his soldiers gunned down 100s of civilians". But in fact the link is to clashes between the security forces and armed Alawite militia. Assad's supporters are mounting attacks against the security forces.

 

A credible link to the contrary? This is always your tactic, right? Quote some bs article without foundation or verifiable facts, and then challenge anyone to disprove it. There is no proof in the first place, and as Hitchens rightly said, what can be asserted without proof can be dismissed without proof. Where's your proof? Some two bit articles from MSM? Even the dubious Syrian Human Rights Observatory can't come up with any. You're just spreading lies.

[Chomper Higgot]

6 hours ago, loong said:

With all the violence, savagery and death in Syria in the last decade, I don't remember any protests in the streets of western nations.
I wonder why that is.

Your memory is letting you down:

 

By example:

 

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/nov/28/thousands-attend-protests-against-uk-airstrikes-on-syria

[Bkk Brian]

9 minutes ago, bradiston said:

The Independent has no verifiable sources to support the claim. It claims "his soldiers gunned down 100s of civilians". But in fact the link is to clashes between the security forces and armed Alawite militia. Assad's supporters are mounting attacks against the security forces.

 

A credible link to the contrary? This is always your tactic, right? Quote some bs article without foundation or verifiable facts, and then challenge anyone to disprove it. There is no proof in the first place, and as Hitchens rightly said, what can be asserted without proof can be dismissed without proof. Where's your proof? Some two bit articles from MSM? Even the dubious Syrian Human Rights Observatory can't come up with any. You're just spreading lies.

You've still not got any link to claim anything to the contrary. Just rants

 

Hundreds of Civilians Killed by Government Forces in Syria, War Monitors Say
More than 1,000 people have been killed in fighting between forces of the new government and remnants of the ousted regime, according to a war monitor, which said about 700 were civilians.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/08/world/middleeast/syria-clashes-assad.html

https://archive.ph/WkRh4