LATAKIA, Syria. – There were clashes between demonstrators on the Syrian coast Alawite religious minority and counter-demonstrators Health officials said at least four people died and dozens were injured on Sunday.
The clashes came two days after an attack on an Alawite mosque in the city of Homs. killed eight people and injured 18 others during prayers. Thousands of protesters gathered in the coastal towns of Latakia and Tartous and elsewhere.
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According to authorities, preliminary investigations suggested that explosive devices had been planted in the mosque in Homs, but still They have not publicly identified a suspect in the attack on Friday. Funeral services for the deceased were held on Saturday.
A little known group that calls itself Saraya Ansar al-Sunna claimed responsibility for the attack and hinted at it in a statement posted on his Telegram channel The target was members of the Alawite secta branch of Shia Islam that radical Islamists consider an apostate.
The demonstrations on Sunday were called Ghazal Ghazalan Alawite sheikh who lives outside Syria and leads a group called Supreme Islamic Council of Alawites in Syria and the Diaspora.
A photographer in Latakia saw pro-government demonstrators Throwing stones at Alawite protesterswhile a group of protesters punched a counter-protester who was crossing the street next to them. Security forces tried to separate the two sides and fired into the air to disperse them.
This was reported by state television Two members of the security forces were injured in the Tartus area after someone threw one Hand grenade at a police station and that security forces cars were set on fire in Latakia.
This was later reported by the state news agency SANA A member of the security forces was shot.
The photographer saw the bodies of four people killed in the clashes at local hospitals. Three of them had head injuries apparently caused by a stone fall, while one had a gunshot wound to the chest.
According to the state news agency SANA, 60 people were injured “Measurements, stone pelting and shooting at both security personnel and civilians.”
The country has experienced several waves of sectarian conflict since the fall of former President Bashar al-Assad in a lightning rebel offensive in December 2024 that ended nearly 14 years of civil war. Assad, an Alawite, fled the country for Russia.
In March there was an ambush by Assad supporters against security forces Days of violence that they left Hundreds deadmost of them Alawites.
Since then the situation has calmed down, Alawites have sporadically fallen victim to sectarian attacks. They also reported Discrimination in public services since the fall of Assad and the imprisonment of young Alawites without charge.
During the rule of the Assad dynasty, Alawites were overrepresented in government positions as well as in the military and security forces.
Government officials condemned Friday’s attack and vowed to hold the perpetrators accountable They have not yet announced any arrests.
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“We took to the streets to protest against incidents of killings, exclusion, arrests and detentions, and the dismissal of employees,” he said. Hussein Abbas, an engineer who joined the Alawite protest.
Counter-protester Mohammed Ismail from Latakia blamed saboteurs who benefited from the old system under Assad for sowing discord.
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