The Kurdish Human Rights Network in Syria, alongside several Kurdish and Syrian civil society organizations, has issued a strong condemnation of the escalating violence in Syria’s coastal region, describing it as ethnic cleansing and sectarian-based atrocities. The coalition has called for an immediate halt to the violence and urged the international community to launch an independent investigation into what they allege are war crimes and mass killings targeting the Alawite community.

Mass Killings and Sectarian Violence

The crisis in Syria’s coastal region has become one of the deadliest episodes of sectarian violence since the ousting of former President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. According to a New York Times report, over 1,000 people have been killed, including at least 700 civilians, as government security forces launched a brutal counteroffensive against armed remnants of the former regime. The Washington Post reported widespread reprisal attacks against Alawite civilians, with entire families executed and villages set ablaze.

Foreign fighters have also played a significant role in the violence, further destabilizing the region. A resident of Al-Qabu, near Homs, told the Wall Street Journal, “Near our house, there are 15 bodies, and nobody has the courage to remove them since yesterday.” Another resident in Baniyas described scenes of devastation, with storefronts looted and streets littered with bodies.

Human Rights Organizations Sound the Alarm

In a joint statement released on Sunday, the Kurdish Human Rights Network and allied organizations expressed deep alarm over the unfolding humanitarian crisis. “We are deeply disturbed by the tragic events in Syria’s coastal region, where members of the Alawite community are facing mass killings, arson, looting, and the execution of unarmed civilians. Based on our field investigations, these acts amount to war crimes and ethnic cleansing,” the statement read.

Eyewitness accounts and verified videos circulating on social media depict armed factions, including foreign fighters, storming villages, executing civilians, and looting homes. A 29-year-old resident of Al-Haffa recounted to the New York Times seeing uniformed men chase and shoot unarmed civilians in the streets. The Washington Post confirmed that at least 624 Alawite civilians have been killed in recent attacks, with many fleeing to the mountains, forests, and neighboring Lebanon.

Urgent Calls for International Intervention

The coalition of human rights organizations has issued an urgent appeal for action, demanding:

An immediate cessation of military operations in Syria’s coastal region, Kobani, and the Tishreen Dam area.
An end to ethnic cleansing and racial persecution against Syria’s diverse communities.
The withdrawal of military forces and armed factions from residential areas.
The establishment of independent civilian bodies to maintain security.
The revelation of the fate of missing persons and an end to enforced disappearances.
The formation of an independent international investigation committee, overseen by the United Nations, to uncover the truth behind the violence.
Accountability for all parties involved in war crimes and sectarian violence.
Prosecution of individuals spreading hate speech and the promotion of a comprehensive national dialogue to build a future based on justice and peace.
Growing Pressure on Syria’s Interim Government

Syria’s interim president, Ahmed al-Shara, has called for unity and pledged to investigate the attacks. However, the Washington Post reported that Shara, a former leader of Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham, faces increasing scrutiny over his ability to control the armed groups operating in the country. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned the violence, stating, “Radical Islamist terrorists, including foreign jihadis, have murdered people in western Syria in recent days. Syria’s minority communities—including Christians, Druze, Alawites, and Kurds—must be protected.”

The United Nations has also expressed concern, with U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk warning, “The killing of civilians in coastal areas in northwest Syria must cease immediately.”

Broad Support from Civil Society

The call for an independent investigation and an end to hostilities has been endorsed by numerous Kurdish and Syrian civil society organizations, including the Syrian Kurdistan Human Rights Organization (DAD), the Jiyan Foundation for Human Rights, and the Kurdish Feminist Movement "Tevgera Femînistên Kurd," among others. These groups have emphasized the failure of the international community to act decisively in preventing the resurgence of ethnic-based atrocities.

A Plea for Justice and Accountability

As the violence continues, human rights organizations are urging the international community, particularly the United Nations and global powers, to intervene and hold perpetrators accountable. The coalition’s statement underscores the urgent need for justice and peace in Syria, warning that without immediate action, the humanitarian crisis will only deepen.

The world now watches to see whether the international community will respond to these calls for accountability and justice for the victims of what human rights groups describe as a grave and ongoing tragedy.