Although the Assad regime fell more than four months ago, conflict still rages on as Israel incurs from the south and Assad loyalists clash with government forces in the west, but the ugly head of extremism has once again reared its head as Alawite civilians are executed.

The Alawites are a fringe branch of Shia Islam who live mostly in Western Syria. They were the dominant force in the Assad regime and many fear persecution under the new anti Assad, Sunni regime.

On February 1st a veteran of HTS, the group who played the biggest role in the 2024 offensive and hold most power in the new government, named Abu Aisha al Shami broke off from HTS to form the سرايا أنصار السنة, Supporters of the Sunnah Brigades. He did this because he felt the new interim government was too lenient towards Shia, Alawites in particular. Him and his group believe that all Shia should be displaced from Syria or killed. They also oppose any pardons of former Assad government members by the new transitional government.

This group, alongside several divisions of the Turkish backed SNA, has carried out executions on Alawite and other ethnic/religious minority civilians during the governments crackdown on armed decent by pro Assad loyalists in the west of the country. Reports vary, with some reports suggesting over a thousand civilians killed by the new regimes onslaught. There have also been reports that the pro Assad rebels have killed hundreds of civilians in their efforts to overthrow the new regime. The Syrian state news SANA reports that individuals had travelled to the west to carry out revenge attacks on Alawite communities in response to the pro Assad uprisings.

Syrian President Sharaa urged non government militants to leave the area. He also put together a committee of 7 judges to help find those responsible for crimes against civilians and punish them.

He said in a statement on March 10th:

“We won’t accept that any blood be shed unjustly, or goes without punishment or accountability, even among those closest to us.”