Syria Defense Ministry says it defeated pro-Assad loyalists
At least 973 civilians, including women and children, have been killed in Syria in recent days as forces of the new administration seek to crush loyalists of former President Bashar al-Assad, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR).
The Syrian defense ministry announced the end of military operations, saying they had been successful.
Newsweek contacted the office of Syria’s prime minister for comment.Why it Matters
The killings have raised concerns within and outside Syria over prospects for the country under the Sunni Islamist Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which is now in control under Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former Al-Qaeda affiliate.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned what he described as terrorist attacks on religious minorities, urging Syrian authorities to hold the perpetrators accountable.
High casualties have been reported among religious minorities, including Assad’s fellow Alawites and Christians.What To Know
Most civilian casualties occurred in the governorate of Latakia, followed by Tartus, as well as in Hama and Homs, according to SOHR.
« These crimes come as part of a large-scale retaliatory campaign targeting members of the Alawite sect, amid ongoing mass killings, house burnings, and forced displacement, all while there is a lack of international intervention to stop these massacres », the UK-based NGO said in a report Monday.
