TEHRAN – The Syrian Human Rights Observatory has confirmed that more than 1,018 people have died in Syrian coastal regions within just 48 hours.
According to the watch group, the number includes at least 745 civilians, most of which are Syrian Alawite sects. However, ground sources consider this to be a conservative estimate, suggesting that the actual death toll could be much higher.
Field sources for Baniyas (Tartous) and Al-Bahluliyah (Latakia) report that civilian deaths range between 2,300 and 2,400.
Reports from Fox News and The New York Times show that more than 4,000 people have been killed in Syria’s coastal areas, based on witness accounts.
Witnesses told Western press they received a list of records of the mass murders of Alawian civilians.
Graphic footage circulating online reveals scenes that are hindering violence. In some videos, government forces are seen executing elderly people, women and young boys at close range.
Other clips show an armed man closing out a group of people.
Many bodies are scattered along roads and village streets, and families are unable to retrieve or bury their loved ones.
Gier Pedersen, the United Nations envoy in Syria, calls for the protection of civilians.
Local sources say many residents are afraid to flee to nearby mountains and forests and return home for what is called the ethnic cleansing campaign.
Activists have accused Syrian government forces of intentionally targeting the Alawian community.
But they also report hundreds of Christians being one of the victims.
Syrian UN resident coordinator Adam Abdelmoula and regional humanitarian coordinator of the Syrian crisis, Ramesh Rajasingham, denounced violence in western Syria, Latakia, Hom and Hama.
In a joint statement, they urged all parties to end hostilities and protect civilians in line with international humanitarian law.
In related developments, Syrian security forces reportedly prevented foreign groups from entering Damsarco, a town near Latakia.
Reports say several massacres took place in rural Latakia villages, Taratis and Hama villages on Saturday, resulting in at least 145 deaths.
On Sunday, local sources reported that Latakia and rural village villages faced new attacks by armed groups allied with the Damascus government.
Syrian Interior Ministry has announced that the General Security Bureau is sending reinforcements to rural Tartas to restore order.
A source from the Syrian Ministry of Defense told state communications agency Sana that violent clashes broke out near a rural village in Latakia.
Meanwhile, according to Sana, communication and internet services were cut off in the southern states of Dara and Sweida as cables were damaged between Dara and Damascus.
Syrian interim president Ahmad al-Sharaa has recognized the crisis as a major challenge in response to reports of ongoing violence and field executions carried out by security officers.
He reaffirmed his commitment to “national unity and civic peace.”
The Syrian government declared full military mobilization and halted all educational activities at the governors of Tartas and Latakia until Tuesday.
According to Colonel Hassan Abdul Ghani, a spokesman for the Ministry of Defense, there is currently a “second phase” of the ongoing military operation.
However, this new phase offers little hope of relief to vulnerable minority groups in Syria.