Fighting in Syria has become deadlier. Opposition forces are clashing with supporters of President Bashar al-Assad. The death toll is rising. Thousands of people are fleeing their homes. The situation is causing alarm around the world.
A Rising Death Toll
More than 1,000 people have died in the fighting. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says that many of the victims are civilians. About 745 of them, including women and children, were executed by Assad’s forces. These killings took place mainly in Latakia, Tartus, Hama, and Homs. These areas have large Alawite communities, who support Assad’s government.
Along with the killings, basic services in Latakia have stopped. There are no power or water supplies. Markets and bakeries are closed. People in the city are struggling to survive. Many Alawites and Christians have fled the violence. Some have found shelter at a Russian military base.
Call for Surrender
Syria’s interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, has called on Assad’s supporters to lay down their weapons. He said they must do so before it is too late. He also warned that people who commit crimes against civilians will be punished. However, he did not directly mention the reported executions. The interim government describes its actions as a large-scale effort to eliminate Assad’s loyalists.
Anas Khattab, the intelligence chief, says that people from Assad’s old security services are behind the violence. He believes they are acting under foreign influence. Khattab accuses these individuals of planning attacks on Syrian soldiers and police. As the violence continues, protests have broken out across Syria. People are demanding an end to the bloodshed.
Regional Concerns and UN Warnings
As the fighting worsens, officials from nearby countries are planning a meeting in Amman, Jordan. Turkey, Jordan, Syria, and Iraq are all concerned about the growing threat of extremism. They are especially worried about Islamic State fighters, who are still being held in northeastern Syria.
The United Nations has also expressed concern. Geir Pedersen, the UN special envoy to Syria, has called on all sides to de-escalate the violence. He said that civilians must be protected under international law. Meanwhile, reports of atrocities continue to surface. Activists in Idlib accuse the interim government’s forces of committing crimes. However, Syrian state media claims that the attacks are being staged by disguised assailants to cause more chaos.
Shifting Power in Syria
Syria’s power dynamics are changing. Since Assad fell in December, new leaders have emerged. The HTS militia, which supports the new government, promises to protect minorities. But fears remain among the Alawite community. They have long supported Assad, and many are afraid of what might come next.
The HTS was once an affiliate of al-Qaeda. Even though the group has tried to rebrand itself, many Western nations still consider it a terrorist organization.
Impact on Refugees and International Reactions
The United Nations reports that 1.2 million Syrians have been displaced because of the ongoing fighting. Around 300,000 of them had been living as refugees abroad. These people have returned to Syria despite the danger.
Meanwhile, Switzerland has frozen 99 million Swiss francs (about €104 million) in assets linked to Assad’s government. If the funds were obtained illegally, they may be used to help the Syrian people.
Syria’s Future Remains Uncertain
Syria is at a crossroads. As the violence continues, the country’s future remains uncertain. International powers are watching closely. The humanitarian crisis is worsening, and the violence threatens to spill into neighboring countries.
The interim government, backed by the HTS militia, says it will bring peace to Syria. But the Alawite community’s fears and the ongoing extremist threat make lasting peace seem distant.
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