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Insights from Tulsi Gabbard Highlight Escalating Violence in Syria
Former Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard’s warning regarding the potential for a terrorist takeover in Syria appears to have materialized. Recent reports indicate that al Qaeda-linked terror groups, allied with Syria’s newly appointed president—who has past affiliations with al Qaeda—are now implicated in horrific massacres targeting Alawites and the remaining Christian communities in the region.
According to Rami Abdulrahman of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Syrian security forces, along with affiliated armed groups, have killed over 340 civilians in just two days, predominantly among the Alawite minority. This alarming situation raises serious concerns about the future stability of the region.
During her Senate confirmation hearing, Gabbard expressed her disdain for both Syrian President Bashar Assad and extremist groups alike. She noted, “I have no love for Assad or any dictator. My only animosity is directed towards al-Qaeda. It is troubling how our leaders cozy up to extremist groups, referring to them as ‘rebels’. This has led to al-Qaeda gaining a foothold in Syria.” Currently, Syria is under the control of HTS, an al-Qaeda offshoot led by an Islamist jihadist notorious for his actions on 9/11 and responsible for the deaths of numerous American soldiers.
A harrowing account from an Alawite woman residing in Al-Ghab plain reveals the chilling sentiments dominating the region. She reported that members of the extremist groups declared, “Alawites are pigs, they must execute all of them, including small children before the elderly.”
Condemning Violence and Seeking Refuge
The ongoing violence escalated when two militias entered her home in search of weapons. She recounted an incident where one militia member put a gun to her head demanding money, ultimately robbing both her and her neighbors.
This witness also confirmed the brutal slaying of 86-year-old Alawite cleric Shaaban Mansour and his son, Hussein Shaaban. Reuters reported that they were killed in Sahlab, a village in western Syria. Local residents accused government-aligned fighters of carrying out these murders.
The terror extends beyond Alawites; reports suggest that the Christian community is also suffering grave violence. Media sources indicated that a young family, including an infant, was killed on a recent Friday. In another horrific incident, a father and son named Tony and Fadi Petrus were executed by Islamist combatants.
In towns including Nahr al-Bared and Deir Shamil, local reports confirm that militia members are breaking into homes, killing occupants, and stealing valuables, all while obscuring their identities.
One eyewitness articulated her profound fears: “There is no safety for us. We feel uprooted, with nowhere to escape. None will defend us. Horrifying feelings haunt us daily.”
The witness identified the perpetrators as members of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, asserting that they are indeed Syrian Arabs based on the dialect they spoke.
Warnings of Impending Genocide
An Alawite source assumed anonymity, sharing that over 4,000 individuals have reportedly been killed in coastal and Alawite regions since the regime change. This source revealed ongoing documentation of mass murder involving names and details shared within their community on social media.
In communications disseminated via Telegram, this group underscored that al-Sharaa’s fighters have instigated a terror wave against civilians in Syria’s coastal cities, leading to hundreds of casualties. The Christian population also finds itself among the victims.
Interim President al-Sharaa’s initial remarks regarding the violence reaffirmed governmental intent to pursue remnants of the ousted Assad regime. “We will continue to track down the remnants of the former regime, ensuring that chaos is contained, and weapon control is maintained across Syria,” said al-Sharaa in a pre-recorded message.
Internationally, figures like the U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres and influential European diplomats have engaged with al-Sharaa, contemplating sanctions relief and potential diplomatic relations since the end of 2022. However, skepticism persists about al-Sharaa, a former al-Qaeda and Islamic State affiliate, genuinely pivoting away from extremist ideologies.
Only days prior to the Alawite massacres, Guterres held discussions with al-Sharaa in Cairo about a new strategic direction for Syria. Though no formal statement has emerged, the U.N. Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, expressed deep concern over the recent reports of killings.
A coalition of Alawite clerics, associated with the Alawite Islamic Council, implicated the Syrian government in the violence, alleging that militias were dispatched to coastal areas under the guise of combating regime loyalists, intending only to terrorize innocent Syrians. They have since requested U.N. protection for their region.
Regional and Global Implications of Ongoing Turmoil
The Syrian government contends that the violence erupted following a strategically planned assault by loyalists of Assad on their forces. This development has undermined al-Sharaa’s authority and complicated efforts to alleviate U.S. sanctions, while also addressing pressing security issues, particularly in the southwest, where Israel has made it clear it will thwart any military resurgence from Damascus.
The bloodshed intensified when Assad-aligned groups attacked security patrols and checkpoints in the Jableh region, inciting further violence.
An influential media figure, Moussa al-Omar, stated that tens of thousands of new fighters are now integrating into the security forces, which have deployed massively on the coast, aiming to restore order.
Alawite activists accuse the extremist factions of perpetrating violence specifically against their community, especially in rural areas of Homs and Latakia, since the overthrow of Assad’s regime in December.
International responses have varied. Saudi Arabia condemned the actions of outlaw groups in Syria targeting security forces, while Turkey—an ally of al-Sharaa’s regime—expressed concern about the potential destabilizing impact of these events on Syria’s future.
Israel’s Defense Minister, Israel Katz, vocally criticized the Islamist regime’s campaign against Alawite insurgents. He stated, “al-Julani has merely exchanged his jihadist attire for a suit. His wicked actions are still evident against civilian populations. Israel will continue to take necessary measures to ensure its safety, particularly against threats emerging from Syria.”
The urgent plea from the Syrian Alawite community is clear: they seek protection and stability as they face potential annihilation at the hands of the newly empowered extremist factions.
Reporting contributed by Reuters.
