The US and Russia have jointly called for the United Nations Security Council to meet over the spiralling violence in Syria, after more than 1,000 people were massacred this week.
Diplomats said last night that they had called for the closed-door meeting to discuss the bitter violence that erupted on Thursday after gunmen loyal to Assad attacked Syria’s new security forces.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights the total number of civilian martyrs which amounted to 973, including women and children.
On top of this, 125 government security force members and 148 with armed groups affiliated with Assad were killed.
The watchdog said the ‘killings, field executions and ethnic cleansing operations’ were ongoing in the wake of deadly clashes between security forces and Alawite gunmen loyal to toppled president Bashar al-Assad.
It added that electricity and drinking water were cut off in large areas around the city of Latakia.
The clashes are some of the deadliest since Syria’s conflict began 14 years ago, and marked a major escalation in the challenge to the new government in Damascus, three months after insurgents took authority after removing Assad from power.
Syria’s leader Ahmed Ahmed al-Sharaa last night vowed to give the perpetrators of the massacre ‘no leniency’, adding they would be held accountable.
Syrian Security Forces patrol a street in the city following violence that occurred in the previous days during clashes between government forces and supporters of the former Syrian regime, in Jableh town of Latakia, Syria, 9 March 2025
The US and Russia have jointly called for the United Nations Security Council (pictured) to meet over the spiralling violence in Syria
A Syrian armed man fires into the air during the funeral of a member of the Syrian security forces killed in an attack by groups loyal to the ousted President Bashar al-Assad, in Hama province, Syria, 9 March 2025
Syria’s leader Ahmed Ahmed al-Sharaa (pictured) last night vowed to give the perpetrators of the massacre ‘no leniency’
He said: ‘We will hold accountable, firmly and without leniency, anyone who was involved in the bloodshed of civilians… or who overstepped the powers of the state.’
Earlier on Sunday, the presidency announced on Telegram that an ‘independent committee’ had been formed to ‘investigate the violations against civilians and identify those responsible for them’, who would face the courts.
It comes after the US’ top diplomat, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, called for Sharaa to hold the perpetrators responsible.
He wrote on X: ‘The United States condemns the radical Islamist terrorists, including foreign jihadis, that murdered people in western Syria in recent days.
‘The United States stands with Syria’s religious and ethnic minorities, including its Christian, Druze, Alawite, and Kurdish communities, and offers its condolences to the victims and their families.
‘Syria’s interim authorities must hold the perpetrators of these massacres against Syria’s minority communities accountable.’
Witnesses revealed how women were reportedly told to ‘walk naked’ before being shot dead amid horrifying scenes in Syria.
The new authorities have repeatedly promised an inclusive transition that protects the rights of religious minorities.
The Alawite heartland has nonetheless been gripped by a fear of reprisals over the Assad clan’s decades of brutal rule.
Syrian armed men attend the funeral of a member of the Syrian security forces killed in an attack by groups loyal to the ousted President Bashar al-Assad, in Hama province, Syria, 9 March 2025
Syrian Security Forces patrol a street in the city following violence that occurred in the previous days during clashes between government forces and supporters of the former Syrian regime, in Jableh town of Latakia, Syria, 9 March 2025
Syrian armed men on a street during the funeral of a member of the Syrian security forces killed in an attack by groups loyal to the ousted President Bashar al-Assad, in Hama province, Syria, 09 March 2025
Baniyas resident Samir Haidar, 67, told AFP two of his brothers and his nephew were killed by ‘armed groups’ that entered people’s homes.
Though an Alawite himself, Haidar belonged to the leftist opposition under the Assads and was imprisoned for more than a decade.
He said he began hearing explosions and gunfire on Friday morning with the arrival of forces deployed to the city, adding that there were ‘foreigners among them’.
‘They entered the building and killed my only neighbour,’ he said.
He managed to escape with his wife and two children to a Sunni neighbourhood, but said: ‘If I had been five minutes late, I would have been killed.’
That same day, armed men entered his brother’s building 100 metres (yards) away.
‘They gathered all the men on the roof and opened fire on them,’ Haidar said. ‘My nephew survived because he hid, but my brother was killed along with all the men in the building.’
He added that another brother, who was 74, and nephew were killed along with all the men in their building.
‘There are houses with four or five dead bodies in them,’ Haidar said. ‘We have appealed to be able to bury our dead,’ he said, adding that he has so far been unable to bury his brothers.
In the port city of Latakia, residents said armed groups abducted a number of Alawites who were killed.
Syrian mourners attend the funeral of a member of the Syrian security forces killed in an attack
Bitter violence erupted on Thursday after gunmen loyal to Assad attacked Syria’s new security forces
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights the total number of civilian martyrs who were liquidated amounted to 973, including women and children’
Among them was the head of a state-run cultural centre, Yasser Sabbouh, who was kidnapped and whose corpse was dumped outside his home, an AFP reporter said.
In Jableh further south, a resident said in tears that they were being terrorised by armed groups who had taken control of the town.
‘There are six of us in the house, with my parents and my brothers. There’s been no electricity for four days, no water. We have nothing to eat and we do not dare go out,’ he said on condition of anonymity, fearing for his safety.
