Syria's Interim President Vows Accountability for Coastal Violence, Over 1,000 Alawites Killed

Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa has vowed to hold accountable those responsible for the recent deadly violence in the coastal region, which has resulted in the deaths of over 1,000 civilians, predominantly from the Alawite minority. The violence, which erupted last Thursday, was the deadliest since the ousting of former President Bashar al-Assad in December. Sharaa emphasized that the killings of Alawites threaten the unity of the country and promised justice for the victims, stating that no violations would go unpunished, even among his allies. He attributed the violence to remnants of Assad's regime, including a former military unit loyal to Maher al-Assad, and unspecified foreign powers, though he hinted at Iran's involvement, which Iran has denied. A fact-finding committee, formed by the new Syrian authorities, is tasked with investigating the wave of violence. The committee, led by spokesman Yasser al-Farhan, aims to prevent unlawful revenge and ensure justice and the rule of law. The committee will gather and review evidence, listen to eyewitnesses, and submit its findings to the presidency and judiciary within 30 days. The violence began after an attempted arrest of a wanted suspect, leading to attacks by Assad loyalists on security forces, which escalated into widespread clashes. The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported at least 803 civilian deaths since the violence started, with the UN Human Rights Office documenting 779 extrajudicial killings, including summary executions on a sectarian basis. The violence has led to the displacement of thousands and resulted in the arrest of at least 7 individuals, with 4 more arrests announced by the interior ministry. The clashes have also claimed the lives of 231 security forces and 250 pro-Assad fighters.