Our hearts are heavy as we write these words: over the past week, Syria faced its worst bloodshed since Bashar al-Assad was toppled from power in December.
Since Thursday, communities in Syria’s coastal region have witnessed a devastating surge in violence. The killing of 937 civilians including women, children, and entire families has been documented.
The crisis began following ambush attacks by Assad loyalists that claimed the lives of hundreds of interim government security personnel and dozens of civilians, including women. In reaction, and as communities received the bodies of young men, calls grew for armed retaliation and revenge, leading to the extrajudicial killings of civilians, the vast majority from the Alawite minority.
Justice must prevail against such atrocities.
Thousands of Alawite families are now too terrified to stay in their homes, and are sheltering in woodlands or desperately seeking a way out, with an estimated 16,000 civilians crossing into Lebanon in the past week.
Survivors we are speaking with tell us they are being targeted purely because of the sect they belong to and regardless of any connection to the Assad regime. A 34-year-old woman told us even grief is dangerous: “Families buried their loved ones in silence, as though losing someone was proof they’d done something wrong,” she said.
The targeted killing of Alawite civilians is an unspeakable crime. Every victim of this violence, no matter their background, deserves justice. We grieve with the families who have lost loved ones and stand in solidarity with all those facing persecution and displacement.
This violence threatens the very foundations of the Syria we have campaigned for over a decade, the Syria we still believe in. As we mark the anniversary of the Syrian Revolution and the first in 14 years without Assad in power, it is a moment that should remind us of the importance of freedom, dignity, accountability, and democracy. We instead see how impunity continues to pose a serious threat to Syrian lives.
It is crucial to reaffirm our unwavering commitment to justice, accountability, and the protection for every Syrian. It is vital that victims and survivors are heard by policymakers and the international community, and that their demands are met so that every act of violence is stopped immediately.
The interim government must act now to put in place independent and transparent judicial mechanisms to prosecute all crimes, past and present.
At this moment, disinformation and hate speech are fueling division and inciting further violence. Social media platforms must act urgently to prevent the spread of sectarian rhetoric that incites further bloodshed. The interim government must take a firm stance against such speech, allow media to access the areas and ensure that the public receives clear and accurate information about the crisis.
The international community has a responsibility to act immediately. The UN, the EU and governments worldwide must put pressure on the interim authorities to halt these atrocities and commit to holding the criminals accountable. They must also fully cooperate with international investigative mechanisms mandated to investigate past and present war crimes in Syria. They must also stand against regional threats to Syria’s security and stability and condemn crimes committed by regional actors, specifically Israel. The people of Syria cannot afford for them to turn a blind eye to crimes, just as they did with Assad’s atrocities for years.
Meanwhile, the humanitarian crisis grows. Thousands have fled or are now in desperate need of assistance. The UN and aid organizations must immediately respond to the needs of displaced families.
We cannot stay silent.
We must continue pushing for the Syria we all dreamed of – a Syria free from fear, impunity, and violence.
In solidarity,
The Syria Campaign team
P.S. We are committed to sharing accurate updates amidst the spread of disinformation and ensuring that survivors’ testimonies are gathered and documented. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and X to stay informed and help amplify their voices.