Syria Faces Escalating Violence Against Alawite and Druze Communities
Syria is experiencing a dangerous escalation in systematic killings and forced displacement, particularly affecting the Alawite and Druze communities in several regions. Reports indicate that these sectarian tensions have dramatically intensified over recent months, leading to widespread violations of human rights, reports 24brussels.
The rise of the de facto authority led by Ahmad al-Sharaa (formerly known as Abu Mohammad al-Jolani) has transformed the areas under his control into a battleground for violations, including field executions, village burnings, and home demolitions, seemingly aimed at altering the demographic makeup of entire regions.
A particularly egregious incident was reported from the western countryside of Hama, where the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights documented a horrifying case of rape in the city of Salhab. A young orphaned Alawite woman was intercepted on her way to work by three armed men, who stripped and assaulted her in broad daylight before abandoning her on the roadside.
The Syrian Observatory condemned this crime, demanding a transparent investigation and immediate accountability for the perpetrators. This incident is indicative of a series of violations that have kept the local population in a state of fear.
In addition to individual crimes, there have been systematic operations, including deliberate arson attacks in villages across Hama, the al-Ghab plain, and the Syrian coast. Activists claim these actions are part of a broader strategy to displace residents from their homes. Alawite villages in Homs have also seen similar incidents, contributing to sporadic displacement.
Meanwhile, documented field executions and summary killings targeting members of the Druze community in As-Suwayda persist. Amnesty International’s latest report has classified these violations as crimes against humanity and warned of the potential for an all-out sectarian conflict if such targeting continues.
From December 2024 to August 2025, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights recorded the killings of 1,172 individuals in various assassination incidents across Syria, including 21 children and 33 women. The month-by-month breakdown is as follows:
- December 2024: 160
- January 2025: 194
- February: 113
- March: 144
- April: 137
- May: 110
- June: 105
- July: 92
- August: 97
- September 2025 (until the 7th): 20
The Observatory emphasized that these figures reflect entrenched sectarian divisions that hinder justice and reconciliation efforts, leaving civilians trapped in a continuous cycle of danger.
This escalation invokes some of the most violent phases of the Syrian conflict, now within an increasingly complex political and social landscape, marked by dwindling international attention to the crisis. This neglect renders victims unprotected and allows de facto authorities to operate without restraint.
The ongoing violence and forced displacement of Alawites and Druze are not isolated incidents; they form part of a broader plan to reshape Syria’s demographic map to benefit specific factions. Without effective international accountability mechanisms, the likelihood of these crimes escalating remains high, risking a new wave of violence that could affect all Syrians.
Author: Adonis Qabbani
