Reuters Report: Soldiers affiliated with the Ministry of Defense involved in massacres in the Syrian coast

On Monday, June 30, 2025, Reuters released an extraordinary 50-page report revealing that nearly 1,500 members of the Alawite sect in the Syrian coast were killed over just three days. This occurred following violent operations carried out by former soldiers loyal to Bashar al-Assad's regime, as the new government forces control large parts of the coast. The clashes resulted in hundreds of security personnel deaths, according to investigations prepared by the agency.

The report details that the killings and looting took place at more than 40 separate locations, targeting especially the Alawite minority, who have historically been linked to Assad's regime. The agency suggests that these attacks were retaliatory responses by Sunni armed factions, as well as forces recently aligned with the new government in Damascus.

Reuters explained that the execution of these killings is traced back to officials under the new government, led by a former Islamist faction now known as "Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham," which was earlier a branch of al-Qaeda in Syria called Jabhat al-Nusra.

Among the tragic stories in the report is the killing of 25-year-old Suleiman Rashed Saad, described as being subjected to a very brutal process—"his chest was cut open, his heart pulled out, and placed on his chest," according to his father. The attackers not only did this but also phoned the victim’s father, threatening to deliver his son's body, which was found near a barber shop in Rassafeh village. Suleiman’s name was listed in a handwritten list of 60 victims from his village, including family members, neighbors, and at least six children.

The report indicates that the wave of killings that lasted days shed light on the deep societal divide in Syria. The newly formed government remains unable to close the chapter on conflicts between supporters of the former regime and opposition figures, amid rising resentment towards Alawites who held extensive control over the army and government during Assad’s rule.

According to the information, factions allied with Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham in the past, such as the General Security Service, the 400th Brigade, and the Osman Brigade, participated alongside newly joined Sunni armed groups supporting the government, including Sultan Suleiman Shah Division and Hamza Division, both subject to European sanctions for human rights violations.

In a special comment to the agency days after these massacres, Syrian President Ahmad al-Shar'a confirmed that their goal is to support the oppressed and that they will not allow the blood of innocents to pass without accountability. He expressed his rejection of bloodshed and its being spilled without punishment. He ordered the formation of a committee to investigate events in the coast and establish national peace, while Yasser Al-Farhan, spokesperson for the committee, stated they are reviewing and analyzing information to ensure the integrity of the truth and produce a comprehensive report.

However, the Syrian official authorities—including the Ministry of Defense, the President’s Office, and the General Security Apparatus—did not respond to the agency’s inquiries regarding their forces' involvement in the massacres. Meanwhile, the European Union condemned the "horrific crimes" committed by all parties, without clarifying reasons for not imposing sanctions on the factions of Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham.

Interviews were conducted with over 200 families of victims during field visits and phone calls, as well as with security officials, armed men, and intermediaries appointed by the government. Messages via Telegram, along with clips of videos and photos documenting the massacres and listing the victims, were also reviewed.

The data indicate that some perpetrators carried lists of targeted men’s names, including former fighters loyal to Assad who received a temporary amnesty. These lists showed entire family names, and survivors described how the bodies of their relatives were mutilated. Video clips also confirmed these acts.

Source: Reuters