As Syria transitions under the interim leadership of President Ahmed Al-Sharaa, concerns are mounting over the fate of the country’s Alawite minority — a sect that once held significant power under former President Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
Following the ousting of Assad in December, reports of targeted violence and reprisals against Alawites have emerged, raising alarm about the sect’s future under Sharaa’s Islamist-led government.
Who Are Alawites?
The Alawites are a minority sect in Syria, making up roughly 10-15% of the population.
They follow a branch of Shia Islam, though their religious practices incorporate elements of Christianity, Gnosticism, and other ancient traditions.
Their stronghold has traditionally been in the coastal regions of Latakia and Tartus.
Alawites rose to prominence in Syria after the French mandate ended in 1946, particularly when Hafez al-Assad, Bashar al-Assad’s father, came to power in a 1970 coup.
The Assad family, themselves Alawite, heavily favoured members of their sect in government, military, and security positions — fostering deep resentment among the majority Sunni population.
Bashar al-Assad, who ruled from 2000 to 2024, continued this trend, cementing the Alawites’ political and military dominance.
This dominance, however, came at a cost when Syria’s civil war broke out in 2011, as Alawites became deeply associated with Assad’s crackdown on opposition forces, fueling sectarian tensions.
Why Alawites Being Targeted?
Since Ahmed Al-Sharaa’s rebel coalition overthrew Assad in December 2024, there have been rising reports of violence, forced displacement, and executions targeting Alawite communities, especially in regions where they formed a significant population.
On Sunday, Sharaa, in a televised address, accused unnamed foreign powers and loyalists of the deposed Assad regime of fueling unrest in the country.
However, rights groups have warned that his government has done little to curb the violent reprisals against Alawites by Islamist factions that now dominate the government.
According to local reports, dozens of Alawite families have fled their homes in Latakia and Tartus over the past three months, fearing reprisals. In some cases, Alawite men have been reportedly executed on the spot by extremist factions who accused them of being Assad loyalists.
A chilling report from the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights noted that over 240 Alawites were killed in the first eight weeks of 2025, mainly in reprisal attacks.
Videos circulating on social media also showed Islamist fighters parading the bodies of alleged pro-Assad fighters, most of whom were Alawites.
Sharaa’s Response
While President Sharaa has condemned the violence in his public statements, his government has not taken concrete measures to protect Alawites from escalating reprisals.
Instead, his administration has largely focused on solidifying power and removing remaining Assad loyalists from the government and military.
Sharaa, a former leader of Syria’s Kurdish armed group, had earlier blamed Turkish-backed Islamist militias for some of the most egregious violence, including the reported executions of Alawite civilians.
However, he has been accused of turning a blind eye to these militias’ actions to avoid internal conflict within his fragile coalition.
The United Nations and international human rights organizations have expressed growing concern over the targeting of Alawites, warning that a failure to curb the violence could lead to a new round of sectarian conflict in Syria.
In a recent statement, Amnesty International called on the Sharaa administration to protect vulnerable communities, including Alawites, from reprisal attacks.
What’s Next For Alawites?
The future of Syria’s Alawite community remains uncertain under Al-Sharaa’s rule.
As the interim government navigates a complex post-war transition, Alawites face the daunting reality of potential marginalisation or displacement.
Some analysts believe that unless Sharaa moves swiftly to provide security and protection for all minorities — including Alawites — Syria risks slipping into a new cycle of sectarian violence.
Others warn that international pressure may mount on Sharaa’s government if reports of targeted violence continue to emerge.
For now, Alawites in Syria remain caught in a precarious limbo — no longer protected by the Assad regime and increasingly vulnerable under the new Islamist-dominated administration.
