Syria's Deadliest Week Since Assad's Fall Highlights Sectarian Divides
Over 800 people, mostly civilians, were killed in violence triggered by Assad loyalists, as the new Syrian government grapples with displacement and sectarian tensions.
- Violence erupted on March 6, 2025, when Assad loyalists attacked government forces in Tartus and Latakia, prompting a harsh military response.
- More than 800 people, primarily civilians and disarmed combatants, were killed in the ensuing conflict, with reports of atrocities including executions and mass graves.
- The Alawite minority, historically aligned with Assad, has been a key target of revenge killings, with thousands displaced to the Russian-controlled Hmeimim Air Base for safety.
- President Ahmed al-Sharaa has launched investigations into atrocities and vowed to hold perpetrators accountable, with arrests already underway.
- International involvement remains limited, though the U.S. has brokered agreements with Kurdish forces, while concerns about Iranian and Hezbollah influence persist.