Overview

• At least 1,225 Alawite civilians were killed in western Syria following attacks by armed groups, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
• The violence erupted after loyalists of former president Bashar al-Assad attacked government forces, triggering retaliatory massacres targeting Alawite communities.
• Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former Islamist leader, has promised an independent investigation into the killings and accountability for those responsible.
• The massacres have raised concerns about the potential for ongoing sectarian violence and the fragile stability of Syria's transition government.
• A historic agreement with Syrian Kurdish forces offers hope for reconciliation but remains fragile as the country grapples with its deep divisions.