Mass Executions, Sectarian Killings Reported in Syria’s Coastal Region

Armed groups loyal to Syria’s interim government have carried out mass executions as part of a campaign described as “cleansing,” according to CNN, citing eyewitnesses and video footage. The violence has escalated into large-scale killings in coastal regions under the control of the Syrian military administration.

Wave of Sectarian Killings

Syria is witnessing its worst violence since the fall of the Al-Assad regime late last year. The Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) reported that at least hundreds have been killed, including dozens of civilians who fell victim to widespread executions by Syrian Defense Ministry forces. Many of the killings were reportedly carried out on sectarian grounds.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the massacres—39 documented since March 6—have primarily taken place in the coastal regions of Latakia and Tartous.

The violence erupted following attacks by fighters claiming affiliation with “Coastal Shield” against forces loyal to Syria’s new ruling authority. In response, government forces launched retaliatory operations, executing civilians and engaging in ethnic cleansing, which continues to this day.

Eyewitness Accounts

Residents have described scenes of horror. One survivor from Latakia recounted, “Armed men moved from house to house, killing people for sport. Bodies were scattered in the streets.”

Bashir, another witness, said his 70-year-old uncle and 60-year-old aunt were brutally killed in Banias, a coastal city in Tartous. “They were Alawites with no political ties,” he said, expressing fears for his own safety and that of his children.

A woman from Homs, Rasha Sadiq, said her family members were executed by fighters supporting Syria’s new ruling authority. “They heard gunfire and sectarian chants before being killed,” she said.

Video Evidence of Atrocities

Social media footage shows convoys of armed men heading toward Latakia and Tartous before the violence erupted. Some videos depict fighters chanting sectarian slogans, while others show victims being taunted before execution.

As violence intensifies, efforts are underway to evacuate students from Suwayda and Jaramana studying in Latakia, amid worsening security conditions.

Source: Al-Manar Website