Syria
Director of Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Rami Abdulrahman, speaks to Rudaw on March 8, 2025. Photo: Rudaw
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ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Syria’s coastal region is witnessing escalating violence, with at least 340 Alawite civilians killed in documented field executions, and 120 combatant deaths reported among rebels and remnants of the former regime, the director of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights told Rudaw on Saturday.
“Over a thousand additional deaths have not yet been officially announced,” said Rami Abdulrahman. The conflict monitor relies on testimonies and video evidence to corroborate its figures.
The violence in Alawite-majority areas erupted after armed groups, many loyal to ousted president Bashar al-Assad, launched attacks on Thursday, prompting Damascus to respond with force. Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who leads the Islamist Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group that spearheaded the offensive that drove Assad out in December, condemned the attacks as “an unforgivable crime” and demanded the gunmen “surrender” their weapons and themselves “before it is too late.”
Assad and many who were in his inner circle are Alawites.
Abdulrahman raised concerns about potential “genocidal operations.”
“We cannot justify killings by claiming that every person killed is a regime loyalist,” he said, noting that among those killed were “opponents of Bashar al-Assad’s regime and former detainees in his prisons” who were executed in their homes.
Abdulrahman said that anyone who has committed war crimes or crimes against humanity “must be prosecuted before the Syrian people.”
HTS has faced repeated criticism for its treatment of minority groups, with many Syrians and foreign powers fearing it could impose strict religious rule, posing a threat to Kurds, Druze, Christians, and Alawites. The violence has heightened concerns over the future of these populations.
Kurds in the northeast and Druze in the south advocate for a decentralized and secular system, but Ismail al-Khalfan, a member of the committee tasked with drafting a constitutional declaration that will dictate Syria’s transitional phase after decades of Assad rule, said that federalism is not being considered. “Until now, we are in favor of maintaining a centralized system and keeping Syria unified,” he said.
Kurds, who carved out an area of control in the northeast called Rojava and established their own administration and armed forces during the civil war, are in talks with Damascus over their future.
Abdulrahman warned that Kurds could be targeted in the future, pointing to an incitement campaign that seeks to link the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). “Just as every Alawite was portrayed as a regime loyalist, a time may come when every Kurd is labeled as PKK, which could lead to their future killings,” he cautioned.
He dismissed accusations that the SDF has funded the upheavals on the coast, describing such narratives - along with allegations of involvement by Iraq and Iran - as “illogical” and “ridiculous.”
Elham Ahmad, foreign relations co-chair for the Kurdish administration in Rojava, on Saturday urged Damascus to “immediately halt their advance” and said that punishing Alawites “under the pretext of being the remnants of the regime” is not reasonable.
“Syrians of all backgrounds have suffered long periods of oppression, and no sect in Syria has been spared from oppression,” she said.
The Kurdish National Council (ENKS/KNC), a group of Rojava opposition parties, warned against exacerbating the crisis “through the continued policies of exclusion and marginalization pursued by the Syrian interim government.”
“The Council further stresses the need for a transparent investigation into all violations and abuses,” their statement read, adding that they are looking forward to the formation of a transitional government that “reflects the aspirations of all Syrians” without excluding any groups, as has been done when Kurds were not invited to join national conversations and committees about the country’s future.
The international community has voiced alarm over the escalating violence. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was “concerned about the recent clashes” and condemned “all violence in Syria,” calling on all sides to “protect civilians and cease hostilities.”
The United Kingdom, speaking at a UN Security Council meeting on Friday, described the situation as “fragile” and warned against its escalation into a broader conflict.
Iraq also expressed “deep concern,” urged “self-restraint from all parties,” and called for intensified global efforts toward a political resolution that ensures Syria’s unity.
Iran warned that the unrest could lead to “more seditious acts by third parties, especially the Zionist regime.”
Saudi Arabia and Turkey have expressed their support for the new authorities in Damascus and condemned “outlaw groups” attacking state forces.
“Over a thousand additional deaths have not yet been officially announced,” said Rami Abdulrahman. The conflict monitor relies on testimonies and video evidence to corroborate its figures.
The violence in Alawite-majority areas erupted after armed groups, many loyal to ousted president Bashar al-Assad, launched attacks on Thursday, prompting Damascus to respond with force. Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who leads the Islamist Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group that spearheaded the offensive that drove Assad out in December, condemned the attacks as “an unforgivable crime” and demanded the gunmen “surrender” their weapons and themselves “before it is too late.”
Assad and many who were in his inner circle are Alawites.
Abdulrahman raised concerns about potential “genocidal operations.”
“We cannot justify killings by claiming that every person killed is a regime loyalist,” he said, noting that among those killed were “opponents of Bashar al-Assad’s regime and former detainees in his prisons” who were executed in their homes.
Abdulrahman said that anyone who has committed war crimes or crimes against humanity “must be prosecuted before the Syrian people.”
HTS has faced repeated criticism for its treatment of minority groups, with many Syrians and foreign powers fearing it could impose strict religious rule, posing a threat to Kurds, Druze, Christians, and Alawites. The violence has heightened concerns over the future of these populations.
Kurds in the northeast and Druze in the south advocate for a decentralized and secular system, but Ismail al-Khalfan, a member of the committee tasked with drafting a constitutional declaration that will dictate Syria’s transitional phase after decades of Assad rule, said that federalism is not being considered. “Until now, we are in favor of maintaining a centralized system and keeping Syria unified,” he said.
Kurds, who carved out an area of control in the northeast called Rojava and established their own administration and armed forces during the civil war, are in talks with Damascus over their future.
Abdulrahman warned that Kurds could be targeted in the future, pointing to an incitement campaign that seeks to link the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). “Just as every Alawite was portrayed as a regime loyalist, a time may come when every Kurd is labeled as PKK, which could lead to their future killings,” he cautioned.
He dismissed accusations that the SDF has funded the upheavals on the coast, describing such narratives - along with allegations of involvement by Iraq and Iran - as “illogical” and “ridiculous.”
Elham Ahmad, foreign relations co-chair for the Kurdish administration in Rojava, on Saturday urged Damascus to “immediately halt their advance” and said that punishing Alawites “under the pretext of being the remnants of the regime” is not reasonable.
“Syrians of all backgrounds have suffered long periods of oppression, and no sect in Syria has been spared from oppression,” she said.
The Kurdish National Council (ENKS/KNC), a group of Rojava opposition parties, warned against exacerbating the crisis “through the continued policies of exclusion and marginalization pursued by the Syrian interim government.”
“The Council further stresses the need for a transparent investigation into all violations and abuses,” their statement read, adding that they are looking forward to the formation of a transitional government that “reflects the aspirations of all Syrians” without excluding any groups, as has been done when Kurds were not invited to join national conversations and committees about the country’s future.
The international community has voiced alarm over the escalating violence. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was “concerned about the recent clashes” and condemned “all violence in Syria,” calling on all sides to “protect civilians and cease hostilities.”
The United Kingdom, speaking at a UN Security Council meeting on Friday, described the situation as “fragile” and warned against its escalation into a broader conflict.
Iraq also expressed “deep concern,” urged “self-restraint from all parties,” and called for intensified global efforts toward a political resolution that ensures Syria’s unity.
Iran warned that the unrest could lead to “more seditious acts by third parties, especially the Zionist regime.”
Saudi Arabia and Turkey have expressed their support for the new authorities in Damascus and condemned “outlaw groups” attacking state forces.
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