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UK Foreign Secretary Calls Reports of Civilian Killings in Syria 'Horrific'
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British Foreign Secretary David Lammy expresses deep concern over reports documenting the killing of hundreds of civilians in Syria’s coastal region, urging the need for transitional justice
British Foreign Secretary David Lammy on Sunday condemned reports of large-scale civilian killings in western Syria, describing them as "horrific" and calling for the protection of all Syrians amid the ongoing turmoil.
In a post on platform "X," Lammy emphasized that "the reports of mass civilian casualties in Syria’s coastal region due to ongoing violence are deeply shocking." He further stressed the importance of establishing "a clear path toward transitional justice" in the country.
His statement comes amid a dangerous escalation in Syria’s coastal cities since last Thursday. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that 830 civilians from the Alawite sect were killed by Syrian security forces and affiliated militias.
Meanwhile, local sources in the town of Taanina, in rural Tartus, indicated that the situation in the Syrian coast suggests a systematic campaign of ethnic cleansing, where civilians are being targeted under the pretext of their alleged affiliation with the "remnants of the former regime."
The sources added that "a convoy of unruly armed factions from the Sultan Murad Brigade and Hamza Division entered the city of Baniyas and remained there for two days, during which they carried out mass executions in the Al-Qusour neighborhood, targeting Alawite residents, and set entire homes ablaze."
With increasing reports of ethnic cleansing in Syria’s coastal region, international pressure is mounting on the Syrian transitional government to ensure accountability for these massacres. However, questions remain about the extent to which the international community can intervene to halt the cycle of violence.
