Deadly Revenge Killings Rock Syrian Alawite Community

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Over 745 civilians were killed in a violent revenge killing spree targeting Syria's Alawite minority within just 48 hours, as reported by international news agencies. The unrest erupted last Thursday when armed militants, supporting the current government, launched an assault on this group, which had previously remained loyal to former President Bashar al-Assad.

Witnesses describe horrific scenes, with one survivor recounting how neighborhoods were left with "roads full of corpses." Rihab Kamel and her family barricaded themselves in their home during the rampage in the coastal city of Baniyas, renowned as an Alawite stronghold. Many citizens have fled their homes, driven by fear of further assaults.

In nearby Latakia, reports also surfaced of armed groups abducting and executing civilians with chilling brutality. Samir Haidar, a 67-year-old local, lost family members to the violence, highlighting the indiscriminate nature of the massacres, which targeted individuals across a spectrum of political beliefs within the community.

The current wave of violence marks one of the most severe outbreaks since Assad's departure to Russia in December 2024.

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