Following Bashar al-Assad’s exit, over 4,700 civilians have died in 100 days, with sectarian violence and chaos dominating Syria. The Syrian Observatory confirms high civilian casualties and ongoing violence, particularly linked to both sectarian affiliations and targeted attacks by loyalists. The situation remains volatile as various groups vie for power.
In the aftermath of President Bashar al-Assad’s ousting, over 4,700 Syrian civilians have reportedly been killed within just 100 days, as sectarian violence escalates and the country plunges into turmoil. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, among those fatalities, at least 1,800 deaths resulted from sectarian attacks, a grim indication of the chaos that has ensued since Assad’s departure to Moscow on December 8, 2024.
Overall, the observatory reports that 6,316 individuals have died across Syria, with civilian casualties totaling 4,711, including 345 women and 194 children. Military fatalities are recorded at 1,605. Disturbingly, 1,805 of these deaths are linked to field executions and targeted killings based on sectarian identity or perceived allegiance to the previous regime, signaling a severe plunge into violence following Assad’s exit.
Notably, the onset of conflicts escalated on March 6, when pro-Assad militias executed attacks against Syrian Interior and Defense Ministry checkpoints. The report cautions that the regime’s collapse has generated a power vacuum exploited by armed groups pursuing various interests.
Initially, the violence was somewhat contained by an Islamist coalition led by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which includes former fighters from the Nusrah Front, linked to al-Qaeda. However, by late February, conditions deteriorated significantly, leading to organized assaults by Assad loyalists targeting officials in Alawite-majority areas, prompting severe retaliation from the new government’s security forces.
The Alawite minority, which has been privileged under decades of Assad rule, faces intensifying scrutiny and backlash as the new power dynamics unfold, given their historical dominance in Syria’s security and military sectors under both Hafez and Bashar al-Assad.
The situation in Syria following the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad is dire, with thousands of civilian casualties reported. The rise of sectarian violence and power struggles demonstrates the severe instability that has emerged. The role of armed groups and the historical context of the Alawite minority’s dominance contribute to the ongoing turmoil, reflecting the precarious nature of the new government amidst widespread chaos.
Original Source: efe.com
