Deadly Attacks in Syria Leave Over Ten Civilians Dead
Recent gunfire incidents in Tartus and Homs provinces result in at least 10 fatalities, escalating tensions in a violence-stricken nation.
At least ten people have been confirmed dead following a series of attacks targeting civilians in Syria, specifically in the provinces of Tartus and Homs.
On March 31, 2025, four individuals, including a 12-year-old boy, were killed in the village of Haref Nemra, located in the Baniyas countryside of Tartus province, which is predominantly Alawite.
Provincial officials stated that the assailants, who remain unidentified, opened fire in the village.
Amer Al-Madani, the head of security in Baniyas, announced that the general security forces are actively pursuing those responsible for the attack, which he discussed in a video posted on the province’s official social media account.
According to a witness named Kamal, who chose to remain anonymous due to safety concerns, the gunmen arrived in search of the mukhtar, a local administrative leader, before starting their assault, resulting in multiple fatalities in a single family.
Following the attack, numerous families fled the Baniyas area, with reports suggesting that many sought refuge in nearby mountainous regions due to heightened fears of violence.
Witness accounts indicated that the roads in the area were largely deserted as residents hesitated to go outside.
In a separate incident on the same day, two unidentified gunmen killed six individuals in the Karm Al-Zeitoun neighborhood of Homs.
This region is notable for its religious diversity, housing a sizable Sunni Muslim population alongside a significant Alawite minority.
Among the victims were three children and their mother, all identified as Alawite, as well as two Sunni house guests.
The father was reported to be seriously injured from the attack.
The recent assaults contribute to a growing wave of violence targeting Syria's Alawite community, which has faced increased threats and attacks.
Earlier in March, coordinated assaults led by Islamist factions resulted in the deaths of over 1,000 Alawites in coastal regions, including Latakia and Baniyas.
These attacks involved mass executions and the destruction of homes, triggering widespread displacement among civilians.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that nearly 200 people lost their lives in Baniyas alone during those incidents.
Witnesses to previous attacks identified the perpetrators as hard-line Sunni Islamists, including locally recruited fighters and those affiliated with disbanded insurgent groups such as Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham.
These assaults have been fueled by longstanding grievances, with many members of the Sunni community holding the Alawites accountable for past oppression during the Assad regime, though the Alawite community also cites suffering under the same authority.
International entities have called on the Syrian government to safeguard minority communities and implement measures to mitigate further violence in the region.
On March 31, 2025, four individuals, including a 12-year-old boy, were killed in the village of Haref Nemra, located in the Baniyas countryside of Tartus province, which is predominantly Alawite.
Provincial officials stated that the assailants, who remain unidentified, opened fire in the village.
Amer Al-Madani, the head of security in Baniyas, announced that the general security forces are actively pursuing those responsible for the attack, which he discussed in a video posted on the province’s official social media account.
According to a witness named Kamal, who chose to remain anonymous due to safety concerns, the gunmen arrived in search of the mukhtar, a local administrative leader, before starting their assault, resulting in multiple fatalities in a single family.
Following the attack, numerous families fled the Baniyas area, with reports suggesting that many sought refuge in nearby mountainous regions due to heightened fears of violence.
Witness accounts indicated that the roads in the area were largely deserted as residents hesitated to go outside.
In a separate incident on the same day, two unidentified gunmen killed six individuals in the Karm Al-Zeitoun neighborhood of Homs.
This region is notable for its religious diversity, housing a sizable Sunni Muslim population alongside a significant Alawite minority.
Among the victims were three children and their mother, all identified as Alawite, as well as two Sunni house guests.
The father was reported to be seriously injured from the attack.
The recent assaults contribute to a growing wave of violence targeting Syria's Alawite community, which has faced increased threats and attacks.
Earlier in March, coordinated assaults led by Islamist factions resulted in the deaths of over 1,000 Alawites in coastal regions, including Latakia and Baniyas.
These attacks involved mass executions and the destruction of homes, triggering widespread displacement among civilians.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that nearly 200 people lost their lives in Baniyas alone during those incidents.
Witnesses to previous attacks identified the perpetrators as hard-line Sunni Islamists, including locally recruited fighters and those affiliated with disbanded insurgent groups such as Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham.
These assaults have been fueled by longstanding grievances, with many members of the Sunni community holding the Alawites accountable for past oppression during the Assad regime, though the Alawite community also cites suffering under the same authority.
International entities have called on the Syrian government to safeguard minority communities and implement measures to mitigate further violence in the region.
