Alarming Spread of Conflict between Alawites and the Opposition in Syria

TEHRAN (Defapress) - At least four people were killed, and dozens were injured in clashes on the Syrian coast between Alawites and their opponents on Sunday.

The clashes came two days after a bombing at an Alawite Mosque in the city of Homs killed eight people and wounded 18 others during prayers. Thousands of protesters also gathered in the coastal cities of Latakia and Tartus and elsewhere.

Initial investigations suggest that explosives were planted inside the Homs Mosque, but the bomber has not been identified. Funerals for the victims were held on Saturday.

According to reports, a little-known group calling itself “Saraya Ansar al-Sunnah” claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement posted on its Telegram channel, saying it had intended to target Alawites.

The demonstration on Sunday was called by Ghazal Ghazal, an Alawite sheikh living outside Syria who heads a group called the Supreme Islamic Council of Alawites in Syria and Abroad.

An Associated Press photographer in Latakia witnessed pro-government opponents throwing stones at Alawite demonstrators. Security forces tried to separate the two sides, firing airstrikes to disperse them, as a group of protesters beat an opposition demonstrator who had approached them.

Syrian state television also reported that two security forces were wounded in the Tartus region after a hand grenade was thrown at a police station, and that security vehicles were set on fire in Latakia. State news agency SANA reported later that a member of the security forces had been killed in gunfire.

An Associated Press photographer in Latakia saw the bodies of four people killed in the fighting in local hospitals. Three of them had wounds to the head that appeared to be consistent with being hit by stones, while one had a gunshot wound to the chest.

That was not the end of the story, however, and state news agency SANA reported that 60 people were injured in stabbings, stone-throwing, and shooting attacks targeting both security forces and civilians.

Syria has experienced waves of sectarian conflict since the fall of President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, ending nearly 14 years of civil war. Bashar al-Assad fled Syria for Russia following last year’s fighting.

In March, attacks by Golani forces on Alawites led to violent clashes and the killing of hundreds. Since then, although the situation has calmed down, Alawites have been sporadically targeted by sectarian attacks. They have also complained of discrimination in government jobs and the detention of young Alawite men without charge.

“We came to the streets to protest against incidents of killings and marginalization, arrests and detentions, and dismissals of employees,” said Hussein Abbas, an engineer who joined the Alawite protesters.

Government officials condemned Friday’s attack and vowed to punish the perpetrators, but no one has been arrested yet.