Russia Reports Surge in Kidnappings and Murders by HTS in Syria, with Majority of Victims Being Alawites
Violence in Syria has escalated under the rule of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), with approximately 400 cases of unlawful abductions and killings since the fall of President Bashar al-Assad’s government in early December 2024. According to Russian news agency Sputnik, citing medical sources, the majority of victims of abductions or murders across Syria belong to the minority Alawite religious group.
Unidentified armed individuals kidnapped six civilians in the Abbasiya neighborhood of Homs City on Monday (30/12/2024), as reported by local sources quoted by Sputnik. Their bodies were found after being executed by a firing squad on the city outskirts. The report also revealed that five of the shooting victims were from the same family.
Additionally, three individuals abducted by masked armed groups two weeks prior were discovered dead in the coastal city of Jableh. The fate of four other young men, also abducted by masked individuals driving two four-wheeled vehicles in Homs, remains unknown, as per the same source.
A militant affiliated with HTS in Syria stood by damaged weapons at an explosion site in the Adra Industrial area, approximately 30 kilometers from the Syrian capital, Damascus, on December 30, 2024.
Sputnik further stated that 15 other individuals had been reportedly abducted in the western port city of Latakia within the past 48 hours. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) also reported that HTS militants raided Ras al-Ma’arra town in the Damascus countryside, resulting in the mayor’s death and the capture of 30 people.
On December 8, HTS-led militants seized control of Damascus and declared the end of President Bashar al-Assad’s rule. Despite HTS repeatedly claiming to respect the rights of all sects and religions in Syria, the situation remains highly fragile on the ground, with the potential for further clashes due to escalating sectarian tensions, according to Sputnik.
### Alawites: Who Are They?
According to Study.com, Alawites are an ethno-religious group practicing one of the branches of Shia Islam. This community faces significant challenges and discrimination in the Syrian conflict, adding a layer of complexity to the ongoing violence in the region. Understanding their beliefs and practices sheds light on the broader context of the atrocities being committed against them.
