'Relatives of Syria's Massacre Victims Speak Out on "Safari Hunting Alawites"'
The bereaved share their accounts with RT regarding the unfolding atrocities and express their skepticism towards the investigative system. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
**The bereaved recount the unfolding atrocities and their skepticism toward the investigative system**
In early March 2025, a severe outbreak of sectarian violence struck Syria's coastal regions, leaving a profound impact on the nation’s collective memory. The violence predominantly targeted the Alawite minority, reigniting fears over escalating sectarian tensions and highlighting the difficulties Syria faces on its journey toward stability.
The turmoil began on March 6, when armed loyalists of ousted President Bashar Al Assad launched an assault against Syrian state security forces in Latakia. Current President Ahmed Al Sharaa responded forcefully, leading to an influx of armed individuals into the region and a series of retaliatory attacks aimed specifically at the Alawite community— a sect of Shiite Islam that represents about ten to thirteen percent of Syria's population. Historically, the Alawites have resided in the coastal areas, such as Tartus and Latakia, which became battlegrounds when Al Sharaa's gangs arrived that fateful Friday.
Reports indicate that within a 72-hour period, over 1,300 people were killed, with civilians suffering the most. The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights noted that among the deceased were 830 civilians, 231 members of Syrian security forces, and 250 Alawite militants, suggesting the true toll could be even higher.
In interviews, RT has spoken with two individuals whose families remain trapped in the area, offering a chilling account of the brutality directed at the Alawite community. Marwa, a pseudonym for security reasons, shared her experience about her brothers:
“It all started on March 6, when we heard shooting and the authorities imposed a curfew. In the morning of March 7, we got in touch with all our family members on our WhatsApp family chat. My brother living in Latakia warned everyone not to leave their houses. And that was the last time we have heard from him.”
After losing contact with him, Marwa’s family sent another brother to investigate. He found a body riddled with bullets, and in a fit of rage, confronted armed men in the street, ultimately costing him his life. Unable to bury their relatives, Marwa described how community members lived in fear of being identified as Alawites.
“I have heard it from at least fifty people. Those gangs would knock on the door and ask residents whether they were Sunni or Alawite. The latter had no chance to survive.”
Marwa alleges that the violence perpetrated by “Al Sharaa’s gangs” included not just murder but also robbery and arson.
“Hundreds of people from my surroundings were so terrified to stay at home that they opted to seek refuge in the forest or the mountains. Many of them spent their nights there, without food and water, with their only hope being to survive the ethnic cleansing,” she said.
Isabella, also not her real name, described the situation as akin to “safari hunting Alawites.”
“Some villages near Hmaymeim airport have lost all their men—young and old—who have been assassinated in cold blood. They killed children and women—no distinction—inside their homes, markets, fields, and streets. Bodies have been seen everywhere—on the streets and in the valleys.”
Following the emergence of videos illustrating the atrocities, the international community reacted with concern.
Multiple leaders condemned the violence. Amnesty International called for immediate action to safeguard civilians and avert further unlawful killings. United Nations human rights chief Volker Turk urged for thorough and impartial investigations into the grave violations that occurred.
Faced with international pressure, Al Sharaa moved to preserve his legitimacy and formed an independent fact-finding committee to investigate the killings. Committee spokesperson Yasser Farhan asserted that “no one is above the law” and promised to apprehend and prosecute those responsible.
However, Marwa expressed her skepticism about the committee created by a government that supported the perpetrators. Isabella echoed this sentiment:
“The gangs of Al Sharaa changed the clothes on some of those victims, dressing them up in uniforms to show the UN delegations and the Al Jazeera crews that they were fighting armed rebels. The bodies of others were buried to conceal evidence.”
“UN employees, who visited some of the villages, were accompanied by Al Sharaa militants who chose where to take them, and who they could speak to. Before the arrival of the UN staff, villagers were offered packs of bread. Some were given money to change testimony, others threatened with torture and death if they dared to speak the truth.”
As for the international community, Isabella believes they are disinterested in becoming mired in Syria's turmoil: “They have bigger fish to fry at the moment: the economic situation is becoming dire, the war with Russia is weakening them, and confrontation with the US doesn’t help either. Syria and its people are not top of their priority list. And that means that the future of Syria is now in the hands of the Syrian people, and they will be the ones who will need to shape it.”
Steven Sahiounie, a Syrian-American journalist from Latakia, expressed grave concerns about the nation’s future: “I’m afraid of the future because these massacres created a deep divide between the Syrian people and the 18 Syrian sects... it is going to take decades until these wounds vanish, if at all.”
Isabella also cautioned about the long-term implications: “The scariest thing is that violence will continue for the next generations. Do you think those who lost their families will forget? They won’t; these recent massacres will leave an indelible scar on the nation’s psyche.”
While Sahiounie noted that conditions in Latakia have calmed—security forces have arrested several culprits seen in the massacre videos, and basic services have been restored—many who fled the area continue to fear returning. Marwa and Isabella harbor doubts that trust can ever be regained.
Sophie Wagner contributed to this report for TROIB News
In early March 2025, a severe outbreak of sectarian violence struck Syria's coastal regions, leaving a profound impact on the nation’s collective memory. The violence predominantly targeted the Alawite minority, reigniting fears over escalating sectarian tensions and highlighting the difficulties Syria faces on its journey toward stability.
The turmoil began on March 6, when armed loyalists of ousted President Bashar Al Assad launched an assault against Syrian state security forces in Latakia. Current President Ahmed Al Sharaa responded forcefully, leading to an influx of armed individuals into the region and a series of retaliatory attacks aimed specifically at the Alawite community— a sect of Shiite Islam that represents about ten to thirteen percent of Syria's population. Historically, the Alawites have resided in the coastal areas, such as Tartus and Latakia, which became battlegrounds when Al Sharaa's gangs arrived that fateful Friday.
Reports indicate that within a 72-hour period, over 1,300 people were killed, with civilians suffering the most. The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights noted that among the deceased were 830 civilians, 231 members of Syrian security forces, and 250 Alawite militants, suggesting the true toll could be even higher.
In interviews, RT has spoken with two individuals whose families remain trapped in the area, offering a chilling account of the brutality directed at the Alawite community. Marwa, a pseudonym for security reasons, shared her experience about her brothers:
“It all started on March 6, when we heard shooting and the authorities imposed a curfew. In the morning of March 7, we got in touch with all our family members on our WhatsApp family chat. My brother living in Latakia warned everyone not to leave their houses. And that was the last time we have heard from him.”
After losing contact with him, Marwa’s family sent another brother to investigate. He found a body riddled with bullets, and in a fit of rage, confronted armed men in the street, ultimately costing him his life. Unable to bury their relatives, Marwa described how community members lived in fear of being identified as Alawites.
“I have heard it from at least fifty people. Those gangs would knock on the door and ask residents whether they were Sunni or Alawite. The latter had no chance to survive.”
Marwa alleges that the violence perpetrated by “Al Sharaa’s gangs” included not just murder but also robbery and arson.
“Hundreds of people from my surroundings were so terrified to stay at home that they opted to seek refuge in the forest or the mountains. Many of them spent their nights there, without food and water, with their only hope being to survive the ethnic cleansing,” she said.
Isabella, also not her real name, described the situation as akin to “safari hunting Alawites.”
“Some villages near Hmaymeim airport have lost all their men—young and old—who have been assassinated in cold blood. They killed children and women—no distinction—inside their homes, markets, fields, and streets. Bodies have been seen everywhere—on the streets and in the valleys.”
Following the emergence of videos illustrating the atrocities, the international community reacted with concern.
Multiple leaders condemned the violence. Amnesty International called for immediate action to safeguard civilians and avert further unlawful killings. United Nations human rights chief Volker Turk urged for thorough and impartial investigations into the grave violations that occurred.
Faced with international pressure, Al Sharaa moved to preserve his legitimacy and formed an independent fact-finding committee to investigate the killings. Committee spokesperson Yasser Farhan asserted that “no one is above the law” and promised to apprehend and prosecute those responsible.
However, Marwa expressed her skepticism about the committee created by a government that supported the perpetrators. Isabella echoed this sentiment:
“The gangs of Al Sharaa changed the clothes on some of those victims, dressing them up in uniforms to show the UN delegations and the Al Jazeera crews that they were fighting armed rebels. The bodies of others were buried to conceal evidence.”
“UN employees, who visited some of the villages, were accompanied by Al Sharaa militants who chose where to take them, and who they could speak to. Before the arrival of the UN staff, villagers were offered packs of bread. Some were given money to change testimony, others threatened with torture and death if they dared to speak the truth.”
As for the international community, Isabella believes they are disinterested in becoming mired in Syria's turmoil: “They have bigger fish to fry at the moment: the economic situation is becoming dire, the war with Russia is weakening them, and confrontation with the US doesn’t help either. Syria and its people are not top of their priority list. And that means that the future of Syria is now in the hands of the Syrian people, and they will be the ones who will need to shape it.”
Steven Sahiounie, a Syrian-American journalist from Latakia, expressed grave concerns about the nation’s future: “I’m afraid of the future because these massacres created a deep divide between the Syrian people and the 18 Syrian sects... it is going to take decades until these wounds vanish, if at all.”
Isabella also cautioned about the long-term implications: “The scariest thing is that violence will continue for the next generations. Do you think those who lost their families will forget? They won’t; these recent massacres will leave an indelible scar on the nation’s psyche.”
While Sahiounie noted that conditions in Latakia have calmed—security forces have arrested several culprits seen in the massacre videos, and basic services have been restored—many who fled the area continue to fear returning. Marwa and Isabella harbor doubts that trust can ever be regained.
Sophie Wagner contributed to this report for TROIB News
