Syria: 745 Alawite Civilians Killed in Three Days – ‘Savagery’ Condemned by Patriarchs

Horror from hundreds of executions and concern over escalating tensions paint the scene of recent days in Syria. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights announced on Saturday (8/3/25) that more than 700 Alawite civilians were killed since Thursday (6/3/25) by Syrian security forces and allied groups during operations against loyalists to the ousted president, Bashar al-Assad, in western Syria. According to the observatory, ‘745 Alawite civilians were killed in areas along the Syrian coast and the mountains of Latakia by security forces and organizations linked to them.’ This brings the total death toll to at least 1,018, including 273 members of the security forces and fighters loyal to the Assad family. Alawites are a significant secretive religious group following a branch of Shia Islam. The three patriarchs in Syria issued a joint statement condemning the wave of violence, calling for conditions conducive to national reconciliation. They emphasized the need for an immediate end to the brutal acts targeting innocent civilians, urging all parties to create an environment promoting equality and genuine cooperation. Greece’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed deep alarm over violent clashes resulting in civilian casualties, emphasizing the urgent need for a political transition without exclusions.