Less than a month after the dramatic overthrow of Bashar al-Assad’s presidency, Syria’s new rebel-led authorities are grappling with violent resistance from remnants of the ousted regime. The latest incident occurred on Tuesday near the coastal city of Tartous, where Assad loyalists ambushed interior ministry troops, killing 14 and injuring 10 others. This attack highlights the ongoing instability in a country struggling to transition from over five decades of Assad family rule to rebel governance.
The ambush reportedly unfolded as security forces attempted to arrest a former officer connected to the infamous Saydnaya prison, known for systemic torture and human rights abuses. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) confirmed the deaths of three unidentified armed men during the clashes and reported that reinforcements were later deployed to the area.
Tartous, a bastion of Assad’s minority Alawite Muslim sect, remains volatile. Members of the Alawite community, deeply embedded in the former regime’s military and political elite, fear widespread reprisals for decades of atrocities attributed to Assad’s rule. This has fueled resistance, with former officers refusing to disarm and local militias vowing to fight back.
Alawite Fears and Calls for Amnesty
The Alawite community faces significant backlash as Syrians demand accountability for war crimes committed under Assad’s leadership. Tens of thousands were tortured to death in prisons, and countless families continue to seek justice for their loved ones. These grievances have ignited calls for trials and accountability, which the Alawites view as existential threats.
Alawite religious leaders have proposed a general amnesty to quell tensions, but such a measure seems unlikely given the scale of alleged atrocities. The new authorities, led by the Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) faction, have shown little indication of pursuing such a policy, as they focus on consolidating power and addressing security challenges.
Nationwide Unrest
The ambush near Tartous is not an isolated incident. Unrest is spreading across the country, with protests and clashes reported in major cities, including Homs, Latakia, and Assad’s hometown of Qardaha. In Homs, a city already grappling with sectarian tensions, a nighttime curfew was imposed following demonstrations sparked by a video allegedly showing an attack on an Alawite shrine.
State media dismissed the footage as old, claiming it dated back to a 2016 rebel offensive on Aleppo. However, the SOHR reported that one demonstrator was killed and five others injured in Homs, exacerbating the fragile situation.
The unrest has further strained the HTS-led government’s promise to protect religious and ethnic minorities. Protests erupted again on Tuesday over the burning of a Christmas tree, an act seen as an attack on Syria’s Christian minority. This incident has intensified calls for the new rulers to safeguard minority rights amidst accusations of failing to curb sectarian violence.
A Nation in Transition
The HTS-led offensive that ousted Assad marked a turning point in Syria’s history. The group, designated a terrorist organization by the UN, US, EU, and others, has pledged to build an inclusive government respecting the rights of all Syrians. However, its Islamist ideology and violent past cast doubt on its ability to deliver on these promises.
The Assad family’s departure to Russia has done little to calm fears of reprisal or reduce tensions. The transitional government faces a monumental task: restoring stability while addressing decades of grievances and ensuring justice for victims of the Assad regime.
As Syria navigates this turbulent period, the world watches closely, weighing the prospects of peace against the persistent threat of renewed conflict. For millions of Syrians, justice and security remain elusive goals in a nation scarred by years of war and division.
