Alawites Return Home Amid Ongoing Fears After Mass Killings

Residents of Syria’s Alawite heartland are cautiously returning home following a wave of sectarian violence that left over 1,400 civilians dead, predominantly Alawites, The National News reported. The killings occurred after a government offensive led by Hayat Tahrir Al Sham (HTS) began on March 6, aimed at consolidating control over the west coast. Witnesses report that HTS security forces have recently escorted Alawite civilians back to their neighborhoods in Latakia and Baniyas, which are mixed communities.

Despite the return, fears of further violence persist, with reports of roadblocks, abductions, and ongoing intimidation. Many Alawites are struggling with shortages of food and transportation, as looting has left them vulnerable. The humanitarian situation remains dire, with some residents describing Baniyas as a “ghost city.”

The violence has drawn international condemnation, with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio attributing the mass killings to “radical Islamist terrorists.” The Alawite community, once dominant in Syrian power structures, now faces significant peril as HTS continues to exert control.