Members of the new Syrian security forces preparing to leave the city of Idlib in the northwest of the country, as reinforcements for the coastal area, on March 8, 2025. (Credit: Omar Haj Kadour/AFP)
Syria’s already fragile political transition is at greater risk than ever. Since Thursday, more than 700 Alawite civilians have been killed by Syrian security forces and allied groups during sweeping operations and clashes with forces linked to the former regime, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR).Damascus’s new strongman, Ahmad al-Sharaa, faces an inextricable dilemma. Since taking power, he has sought to reassure minorities and urged his forces to avoid sectarian violence. Yet, he now appears unable to contain the more radical factions within Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). The massacre carries catastrophic consequences for Syria’s future, but regional actors may seek to exploit the crisis for their own gain. Read more 'If the massacres continue, there won't be a single Alawite left in Syria' "The current...
Syria’s already fragile political transition is at greater risk than ever. Since Thursday, more than 700 Alawite civilians have been killed by Syrian security forces and allied groups during sweeping operations and clashes with forces linked to the former regime, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR).Damascus’s new strongman, Ahmad al-Sharaa, faces an inextricable dilemma. Since taking power, he has sought to reassure minorities and urged his forces to avoid sectarian violence. Yet, he now appears unable to contain the more radical factions within Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). The massacre carries catastrophic consequences for Syria’s future, but regional actors may seek to exploit the crisis for their own gain. Read more 'If the massacres continue, there won't be a single Alawite left in Syria' "The...