“1,000 Killed in 48 Hours as Revenge Killings Erupt in Syria; Women Paraded Naked”

Violence erupted in Syria following a wave of “revenge killings” initiated by gunmen supporting the current government. The attacks targeted the Alawite minority sect, which had remained loyal to former President Bashar al-Assad. In one of the deadliest escalations of the ongoing conflict, over 1,000 people were killed in just two days, with intense clashes between security forces and Assad loyalists. While the violence has temporarily subsided, the Syrian government has regained control over most regions. Authorities have closed all roads leading to the coastal area, where the violence was most concentrated, in a bid to restore order.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that 745 civilians were among the casualties, mostly due to close-range shootings. Additionally, 125 members of the government security forces and 148 militants affiliated with Assad’s loyalist groups were killed. Under Assad’s regime, the Alawite sect held influential positions within the military and other key sectors, but since the new regime took power three months ago, Alawites have become frequent targets due to their association with the former president.