Protests in Latakia as Tensions Rise Among Alawites
On Tuesday, Syrian security forces intervened with gunfire against rival protesters in Latakia, a coastal city with a significant Alawite population, a group that once wielded considerable influence but now faces persecution.
The Alawites, a minority sect of Shiite Muslims, include both Hafez Assad, the architect of Syria’s current political landscape, and his son Bashar, the country’s president. Since Bashar’s ousting in December 2024, the Alawite community has been anxious about backlash from other Syrian groups they believe had benefited during Assad’s rule. Some factions that collaborated to remove Assad suspect that certain Alawites remain loyal to the previous government and may wish to destabilize the current one.
There’s a palpable fear among Alawites of retribution. This was heightened by a recent horrific event in Homs where armed individuals from a Sunni Bedouin group reportedly attacked an Alawite family, resulting in brutal killings; allegations surfaced that sectarian slogans were scrawled nearby using the victims’ blood. Following these murders, armed Bedouin tribesmen struck back at the Alawite community, causing widespread damage. Many Alawites were infuriated that security forces seemed ineffective in preventing this violence, although they did assist residents fleeing the burning areas. A curfew was ultimately enforced in Homs.
Officials from the central government claimed there was “no physical evidence” suggesting that the Bedouin couple’s deaths were politically motivated, with one security official even suggesting that it might be an orchestrated attempt to stir sectarian strife and disrupt stability.
The American Alawite Association condemned the violence in Homs, characterizing it as “shocking” acts of brutality violating humanitarian norms. They stated that armed groups had terrorized civilians and destroyed homes. The AAUS urged the U.S. government to step in to safeguard the Alawite population and called for a governance model that promotes community autonomy.
In Latakia, tensions flared as supporters of the central government began insulting Alawites. As confrontations escalated, reports emerged of gunfire. Video footage captured the moments when at least one individual was seen lying motionless on the ground, leading to accusations from both sides regarding who instigated the violence. While authorities initially claimed security forces fired shots into the air, an unconfirmed source later alleged that an individual discharged their weapon, endangering both protestors and officers.
Similar demonstrations for autonomy are reportedly occurring in other towns, as many Alawites express distrust in the central authorities based in Damascus to provide adequate protection. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, 42 demonstrations took place across Syria, with many rallying for federalism and against what is perceived as “ethnic cleansing.” Some observers characterized this mobilization as the largest political movement among Alawites since Assad’s downfall.
“The signs of dissatisfaction within the Alawite community are stark,” noted a woman from Latakia. “People are weary of being sidelined.” Demonstrations also occurred to show support for the Alawites in predominantly Druze areas, where demonstrators drew parallels between the current situation and the repression faced during Assad’s crackdown on early protests in 2011.
