Reuters Reveals New Details on Massacre of Shia Muslims on Syrian Coast
According to a report by webangah news Agency, Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar has published Reuters’ findings exposing the involvement of Syrian security services, a group linked to former special forces unit Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, and several defense ministry officials in last March’s massacres.
The report states approximately 1,500 Alawite civilians where killed within just two days, with dozens more missing and their fates unknown.
Reuters identified over 10 armed militant groups,including foreign fighters now operating under Syria’s new regime,as participants in the coastal region killings. More then half of these groups have faced international sanctions for years due to systematic human rights violations including civilian murders, abductions, and sexual violence.
Among them is former Hayat Tahrir al-Sham – now integrated into Syria’s internal security apparatus alongside the 400th Division special forces and Osman brigade. The Sultan Suleiman Shah Brigade and Hamza Unit also participated before being absorbed into goverment forces.
The investigation documents widespread abductions of Alawite women since March 2023, with families flooding social media with missing person appeals. Kidnappings continue daily across coastal communities.
tensions escalated after syria’s new government under Joulani implemented policies angering Alawite communities, sparking protests in Qardaha, Jableh, Latakia, Tartus, Homs and Masyaf. Security forces responded with live fire against demonstrators before violence spread through Latakia province – notably in al-Haffah district where pro-government militants conducted mass killings.
The Syrian Human Rights Committee has documented 25 massacres by Joulani-affiliated groups along the coast since March 2023 claiming 2
