Particle.news
Download on the App Store
11 ARTICLES
·
last mo.

Sectarian Violence Erupts in Post-Assad Syria, Leaving Over 1,000 Dead

Clashes between pro-Assad factions and forces loyal to Ahmed al-Sharaa highlight deep-seated ethnic and religious tensions in Syria's fragile transition.

Syria's interim president Ahmad Al-Sharaa, center, prepares to sign a temporary constitution for the country in Damascus, Syria, Thursday March 13, 2025. At left foreign minister Asaad Hassan al-Shiban.(AP Photo/Omar Albam)
Image
FILE - Syria's interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, looks on during a joint press conference with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the presidential palace in Ankara, Turkey, Feb. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco, File)
A fighter from the Druze Rijal al-Karameh militia talks to a driver while looking through his car at a checkpoint in the town of Jaramana, in the southern outskirts of Damascus, Syria, March 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Omar Sanadiki)

Overview

  • More than 1,000 people, including civilians, were killed in violent clashes after Assad loyalists staged an uprising in western Syria on March 7.
  • Ahmed al-Sharaa's government, which replaced the Assad regime, faces criticism for alleged targeting of Alawites and other minorities during the crackdown.
  • Observers draw parallels between Syria's sectarian challenges and Iraq's post-Saddam instability, warning against policies that could exacerbate divisions.
  • Alawite communities express fear for their safety, citing reports of field executions and reduced protection amid widespread insecurity.
  • Iranian-linked Assad remnants have been implicated in escalating violence, raising concerns about external actors exploiting Syria's fragile state.