When war breaks out, the innocent are the ones who suffer the most. Alawites are frantically seeking Russian protection amid sectarian violence as Syria devolves into a full-scale civil war, with 48 people killed in the carnage between Assad loyalists and the new Islamist regime. The goal of the newly established “Military Council for the Liberation of Syria” is to retake land and safeguard its citizens. There are reports of large military convoys heading toward the Syrian coast, suggesting that the situation may escalate.
Sectarian Violence Explodes in Post-Assad Syria
Syria has descended into what officials are now openly calling a civil war, with violent clashes marking the worst bloodshed since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government. Recent battles between supporters of the former Assad regime and the new radical Islamist government have resulted in at least 48 deaths, highlighting the deepening sectarian divides that have long simmered beneath the surface. The violence has been particularly concentrated in Latakia province, a stronghold of the Alawite religious minority to which the Assad family belongs and home to a Russian-operated air base that remains strategically significant.
The most serious incident occurred in Jableh, within Latakia province, where pro-Assad forces conducted a sophisticated ambush against regime security personnel, killing 16 members. This attack, described by military analysts as well-executed, may be linked to former General Suheil al-Hassan, who commanded elite units under Assad. The ambush triggered immediate retaliation, resulting in additional casualties on both sides and raising fears of an expanding conflict. Eyewitnesses report large convoys of regime forces now moving toward the Syrian coast, suggesting preparations for further military operations.
The Al Julani nee Syrian regime has underestimated the Assad loyalists in the coastal area of Tartus and Latakia.
The Assadists have been reorganizing and have now opened significant hostile attacks against HTS
We have countless clashes in the streets and total chaos pic.twitter.com/Ys9WfXwYxT— Hamas Atrocities (@HamasAtrocities) March 7, 2025
Alawite Minority Faces Targeted Persecution
Reports from various Syrian regions indicate the Alawite minority is facing increasingly targeted violence. Social media platforms have been flooded with disturbing videos showing attacks against Alawite civilians, including massacres and assaults on residential areas. These developments have sparked widespread protests against the new Sunni-dominated regime in several Syrian cities, with demonstrators calling for international protection. The Alawite community, fearing extermination, has made specific appeals to Russia—their longtime ally—to intervene and provide security guarantees.
“In a well-planned and premeditated attack, several groups of Assad militia remnants attacked our positions and checkpoints, targeting many of our patrols in the Jableh area.” – Mustafa Kneifati
Sunni militants, now dominant in the security apparatus of the new government, stand accused of conducting executions and kidnappings targeting Alawites. These actions appear to be driving a dangerous cycle of retribution and counter-violence that threatens to engulf broader sections of Syrian society. Russia’s response to these appeals remains uncertain, though the country maintains significant military assets in Syria, including the air base in Latakia province—the very region now experiencing some of the worst violence.
BREAKING
Assad loyalists ambush HTS militants (Jolani forces) on the outskirts of Latakia, Syria.
Insane footage. pic.twitter.com/iivBPBiuwk
— Global Peace Advocates (@RealKON_) March 7, 2025
Military Council Forms to Challenge New Regime
In response to the escalating violence and perceived sectarian targeting, opposition forces have announced the formation of a “Military Council for the Liberation of Syria.” This new organization aims to reclaim control of Syrian territory and establish stability in a country that has known little peace in recent years. The council appears to draw support from former regime elements and minority communities feeling threatened under the new government. Military analysts suggest this organization could potentially receive backing from external powers with interests in reshaping the regional balance.
Some regional observers have noted that the current chaos in Syria may serve the strategic interests of neighboring countries, particularly Israel, by weakening a historically hostile neighbor. A fractured and internally focused Syria poses less of a threat to regional security calculations than a unified state with external ambitions. The international community now faces difficult questions about how to respond to this newest chapter in Syria’s troubled recent history, including whether to recognize the growing humanitarian crisis facing religious minorities and what steps might prevent further escalation of violence.