A new report from the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reveals that nearly 10,000 people have been killed in Syria since former ISIS commander Ahmad al-Sharaa seized power in December. The report documents a surge in sectarian violence and massacres, with minority groups such as Alawites, Druze, and Christians being targeted. The armed group responsible, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which was once described as “diversity friendly jihadists” by some media outlets, has been linked to a wave of killings.
According to SOHR, out of the 9,889 deaths, 7,449 were civilians, including hundreds of children and women. The report also highlights a lack of accountability, with perpetrators often being shielded and facts distorted. An earlier report on the massacre of 1,600 Alawite civilians was dismissed, even as new massacres were being carried out against other minority groups.
The situation is further complicated by pro-government media campaigns that are reportedly using “sectarian and inflammatory rhetoric” against groups documenting these human rights violations. The SOHR also notes that thousands of people remain imprisoned without proper trials or clear charges, and families are still searching for information about their loved ones who were kidnapped during the coastal massacres.
Sources:
Amnesty International: Syria human rights crisis deepens with rise in sectarian violence
Human Rights Watch: Report details mass killings and lack of accountability in Syria
