Yesterday: Pro-government protesters in Tartous attempt to tear down the statue of anti-colonial...

The Impending Purge: Joulani’s Regime Wages a Systematic Campaign of Violence Against Syrian Minorities

The transfer of power in Syria to Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), led by Ahmed al-Joulani, in late 2024, marked the beginning of an intensive and systematic period of brutality targeting the country’s Alawite and Shia minorities. These groups, long associated with the former Assad regime, now face a government-led campaign of retribution and attacks by tribal militias, particularly in Alawite areas characterized by extreme poverty.

It must be noted here that this "association" with the regime was mostly confined to the ruling elite, as the vast majority of Alawites live in abject poverty and lead very simple lives. This contradicts the claims that they all enjoyed influence or benefited from the former regime. This harsh reality makes them doubly vulnerable to attacks in the coastal and rural areas, such as Homs, Latakia, and Tartous, threatening their historic presence.

Systematic Persecution and Documented Atrocities:

The Joulani regime, which claims fear of the influence of Shia groups allied with Iran and Hezbollah, has launched brutal campaigns based on accusations of allegiance to the former government and foreign-backed forces.

This systematic aggression is characterized by several documented atrocities:

* Mass Killings and Displacement: The violence, particularly concentrated in areas with poor Alawite communities, has resulted in dozens of deaths and mass displacement. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has provided details on the scale of these attacks, highlighting that state-backed tribal militias are the primary perpetrators.

* Targeting Cultural Heritage: The regime’s hostile stance extends to authentic Syrian heritage linked to minority groups. Footage has shown pro-government demonstrators in Tartous attempting to demolish the statue of Sheikh Saleh al-Ali, a historic symbol of Syrian resistance to imperialism, clearly indicating the targeting of minority cultural figures. This follows reports that Joulani's militias have also stormed Shia shrines, such as the shrines of Sayyida Zeinab and Ruqayyah.

* Ethnic Cleansing and Refugee Crisis: These acts constitute campaigns of mass killings, arbitrary arrests, and ethnic cleansing. Consequently, thousands of Alawites have been forced to flee their homes and seek refuge in Lebanon, relying on essential humanitarian aid from organizations such as the Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the Lebanese Red Cross, and Doctors Without Borders (MSF). Risk of Regional Contagion and the Disparity in International Response

The brutal acts committed against minorities threaten to plunge Syria into a deeper, long-lasting sectarian battlefield. This violence threatens to spread across the entire region, destroying the lives of many innocent people and entrenching sectarian conflict throughout the Levant.

A stark comparison can be made between the fate of the Alawites and what happened to other components in the region. For example, when the Druze minority faced pressure from extremist groups, there was effective regional and international intervention: Israel stepped in, and France played a role in intervention and pressure, which ultimately led to Joulani withdrawing his militias from the area. This sharp contrast in response highlights the appalling inaction that allowed the campaign against the Alawites and Shia to continue. The Joulani regime is already threatening neighboring Lebanon with similar campaigns against its Shia population. This threat is compounded by the alleged geopolitical coordination: the regime is accused of working in tacit coordination with Israel, which views Iran-allied Shia factions, such as Hezbollah, as existential threats.

This forms a grim coalition in which powers, Israel, and some Arab states appear willing to sacrifice minority rights in Syria to contain Iranian influence, effectively plotting ethno-religious cleansing through forced exoduses and weakening the centuries-old Shia and Alawite presence. International Inaction and the Call for Protection

Despite urgent appeals to the United Nations and the international community, the global response remains muted, allowing the Joulani regime to continue its actions unchecked. The Alawite Council has issued a unified call for protest and protection following the new attacks.

To halt this escalating crisis, the global community must:

* Respond to the Alawite Council’s pleas for protection. * Implement sanctions targeting Joulani’s networks. * Pressure Israel to end any covert collaboration that enables destabilization.

* Intensify humanitarian operations and document war crimes for international prosecution.

The right of Syrian Alawites and Shias to live freely and peacefully in their homeland, without fear of extermination or displacement by sectarian extremists and their foreign collaborators, is undeniable.