Following the ousting of President Assad, Syria faced intense sectarian violence leading to over 4,700 civilian deaths within 100 days. Reports indicate significant casualties including women and children, alongside a power vacuum exploited by armed groups, particularly impacting Alawite regions.
In the 100 days following the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad, over 4,700 Syrian civilians have died due to rampant sectarian violence and chaos, as reported by a UK-based war monitor. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights noted that at least 1,800 of these deaths were linked to sectarian attacks after Assad’s departure to Moscow on December 8, 2024.
The overall casualty figures since Assad’s fall indicate 6,316 individuals have been killed across Syria, comprising 4,711 civilians, including 345 women and 194 children, alongside 1,605 military casualties. Additionally, 1,805 deaths stemmed from field executions and sectarian violence related to affiliations with the former regime.
The majority of these fatalities occurred in March, particularly on the 6th, when pro-Assad militants targeted checkpoints associated with Syrian Interior and Defense ministries. The downfall of Assad led to a power vacuum, which armed groups exploited for personal gain, exacerbating the ongoing violence.
Although violence was initially contained by the Islamist-led coalition, particularly by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the situation deteriorated significantly towards late February. A series of concerted attacks by Assad loyalists against officials in Alawite-majority western Syria instigated a severe crackdown, provoking retaliatory extrajudicial executions and revenge killings from security forces aligned with the new government in Damascus.
The Alawite minority, aligned with Shia Islam, had benefitted from substantial privileges during the Assad family’s lengthy rule, particularly in the realms of security and military leadership, cementing their key role in the regime’s structure.
The conflict in Syria remains catastrophic, with over 4,700 civilians killed in just over three months following the fall of Assad. Sectarian violence is escalating amidst the chaos, as armed groups exploit the power vacuum left by the regime’s removal. This situation highlights the dire conditions faced by civilians and emphasizes the urgent need for stabilization and security measures in the region.
Original Source: efe.com
