Hundreds killed in Syria as pro-Assad attacks spiral into revenge killings

Over the past two days, more than 1,000 people were killed in Syria’s coastal region, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR). It started on Thursday, when supporters of overthrown autocrat Assad coordinated a number of attacks and ambushes on Syrian security forces. The fighters belonged to Assad’s Alawite sect.

Security forces, backed by allied armed groups, responded with deadly raids in Latakia and Tartous. According to multiple media reports and testimonies, the violence spread into revenge killings.

At least 745 Alawite civilians were killed in Latakia and Tartous over three days, SOHR reported, in addition to 148 pro-Assad fighters. Around 125 members of the new Syrian government’s forces were also killed, the UK-based war monitor said.