Syria’s new authorities have launched a security crackdown in the coastal region of Tartous, where 14 policemen were killed in an attack earlier this week. The operation aims to control security, stability, and civil peace, while also pursuing remnants of the ousted Bashar al-Assad government.
The violence in Tartous has marked the deadliest challenge yet to the Sunni Islamist-led authorities, which swept Assad from power on December 8. The region is home to many members of Assad’s Alawite sect, an offshoot of Shi’ite Islam that dominated security forces under his rule.
New authorities have banned news coverage with a “sectarian tone,” citing attempts to incite sectarian strife. A video showing a fire inside an Alawite shrine in Aleppo circulated on social media, prompting warnings from Damascus authorities and accusations from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the former al-Qaeda affiliate.
Protesters chanted “Oh Ali!” during a rally outside local government headquarters in Tartous, referencing a revered figure in both Alawite and Shi’ite traditions. The Syrian information ministry declared a ban on media content with a sectarian tone, amid growing concerns about sectarian violence.
Iran, Assad’s long-time ally, has criticized the course of events in Syria, calling for Syrian youth to stand firm against those who have orchestrated insecurity. The new foreign minister, Asaad Hassan al-Shibani, warned Iran against spreading chaos and holding them accountable for the repercussions of their remarks.
As tensions brew in Tartous, Alawite sheikhs are warning about attempts to incite sedition, despite promises from HTS to protect minority groups. Thousands of people fear division and resentment is growing, but many Alawites remain committed to peace and unity.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/syrias-new-rulers-declare-crackdown-tensions-flare-coastal-area-2024-12-26