At least 10 dead in Syria as gunmen target civilians in Tartus and Homs

In Tartus province, unidentified attackers opened fire in Haref Nemra, killing at least 10 people, including a 12-year-old boy and an 80-year-old, Arab News reported. The incident, described by witnesses as involving masked gunmen believed to be government forces, has not been independently verified. The local security forces are pursuing those responsible.

In Homs, two gunmen killed six people, including three children from the Alawite sect and two Sunni house guests, while leaving the father seriously wounded.

The Alawite community has faced increasing violence, with reports of massacres and targeted attacks. In early March, Islamist-led forces killed over 1,000 Alawites in coordinated assaults, leading to mass displacements and heightened fears among residents. Witnesses identified attackers as hard-line Sunni Islamists and local Sunnis seeking revenge for past atrocities. The international community has called for the protection of minorities in Syria.