QAMISHLO,— The semi-autonomous Kurdish-led administration in Syrian Kurdistan (Rojava) condemned the recent mass killings of civilians along the Mediterranean coast, particularly those targeting the Alawite minority, which the regime of the ousted president Bashar al-Assad was closely associated with.
In a statement released Sunday, the Kurdish authorities denounced the violence and termed it an assault on civilians, calling for those responsible to face justice.
The Kurdish administration’s statement expressed firm opposition to the brutal actions carried out in the coastal region, which have resulted in substantial civilian casualties.
“These actions represent a regression into a dark era that the Syrian people have long hoped to avoid,” the administration’s statement read, emphasizing the importance of holding perpetrators accountable.
The violence, which has drawn widespread condemnation, erupted following clashes between Syrian security forces and reportedly militants loyal to Assad’s regime.
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors the conflict, at least 973 civilians, mostly Alawites, had been killed by March 10. The deaths were attributed to both government forces and their allies, who engaged in field executions and ethnic cleansing operations.
On Sunday, United Nations human rights chief Volker Turk demanded an immediate cessation of the violence, calling for international action to halt the attacks on civilians.
The United States, United Kingdom, and the Arab League have also strongly condemned the killings, urging an end to the bloodshed.
In a statement released by state-run SANA news agency, Syria’s interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, vowed to hold accountable those responsible for the violence.
“We will pursue those involved in these massacres with the full force of the law,” Sharaa said in a video message. Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, is a former al-Qaeda affiliate and current leader of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a group that controls much of the opposition-held territory in Syria.
The violence erupted on March 6 after tensions escalated in the coastal region, especially following the arrest of a wanted individual in an Alawite-majority village.
Reports indicate that the clashes have caused more than 1,300 deaths, with both government and rebel forces suffering heavy casualties. Social media images showed Syrian security forces advancing toward the city of Jableh, a coastal area between Latakia and Tartus, with black smoke rising in the background.
Syria’s Interior Ministry confirmed on Sunday that government forces had launched large-scale operations in the area of Tartus, which is considered a stronghold of Assad loyalists.
The aim of these operations, according to the ministry, is to eliminate any remaining pockets of resistance linked to the toppled regime.
The violence, which has included multiple massacres, has led to widespread international concern, especially as the toll continues to rise. The UK Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, emphasized the need for Syria’s authorities to protect minority communities and establish a path for transitional justice.
US Senator Marco Rubio also called for accountability in response to the massacres, stating that those responsible must be brought to justice.
In a public statement, the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch, John X, condemned the violence against Christians and called on Syria’s interim president to take immediate action to halt the killings and ensure safety for all Syrian citizens, regardless of their religious or sectarian affiliation.
The violence has led to increased international scrutiny of Syria’s new Islamist leadership and their commitment to upholding human rights and protecting minority groups in the country.
(With files from AFP | Agencies)
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