Barely three months after Syria ended its more than a decade long civil war, with the ousting of the then President Bashar Al-Assad who fled into exile in Russia, another civil war broke out in the Northwestern part of Syria on Thursday, which many observers, especially war monitors described as the deadliest in recent history with War Monitors putting the human casualty figures at more than 1,000, but, many local residents claimed the numbers of human deaths recorded in the multiple clashes that continued till Sunday night maybe more than 1,200, with Al-Jazeera showing a video footage of one of the war monitors uprooting dead bodies from shallow graves – the TV station said to be among the 230 Syria Security Operatives killed during the clashes, after deadly gun firing ensued between armed group loyal to the ousted Al-Assad and pro interim government security operatives, which escalated to multiple attacks on civilians and most of the civilians were killed in large numbers at their homes.

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, (SOHR) – which monitors fighting in Syria – said about 745 civilians were killed in 30 “massacres” targeting Alawites on the west coast on Friday and Saturday.

Adding that, the number of fighters killed in the past four days brings the total death toll to more than 1,000 people, which the Syrian Observatory group said included about 125 fighters linked to the new Islamist-led government and 148 pro-Assad fighters.

It was gathered that the violence erupted along the Mediterranean coast, a region predominantly inhabited by the Alawite minority, to which Assad belongs. Local Observers said that the deaths toll is the highest since 2011 when Syria has been engulfed in civil war.

Syria’s interim president, Ahmad al-Sharaa, on Sunday called for national unity as international alarm grew over the violence.

“What is happening in the country are expected challenges. We must preserve national unity and civil peace in the country,” Sharaa said at a mosque in Damascus he said he used to pray at two decades ago.

“We are capable of living together in this country, as much as we can,” he added.

The ongoing clashes are the worst outbreak of violence since Assad – a member of the minority Alawite sect – was toppled in December by Sunni Islamist militants who sought to reshape the country’s political and sectarian order, according to CNN.

Adding, Latakia and Tartous on the Mediterranean coast are areas where support among Syrian Alawites for Assad was strong. Alawites – some 10% of the population – were prominent in the Assad regime, and while many Alawites have surrendered their weapons since December, many others have not.

The latest surge in violence highlights the challenges Syria’s new regime faces in appeasing disenfranchised groups, especially those that remain heavily armed.

Meanwhile, the United Nations Human Rights Chief, Volker Turk in a statement on Sunday, published on the UN Human RIghts website, said that; “the killing of civilians in coastal areas in northwest Syria must cease, immediately.

Following a series of coordinated attacks reportedly launched by elements of the former government and other local armed men, we are receiving extremely disturbing reports of entire families, including women, children and hors de combat fighters, being killed.

There are reports of summary executions on a sectarian basis by unidentified perpetrators, by members of the caretaker authorities’ security forces, as well as by elements associated with the former government.

The caretaker authorities’ announcements of their intention to respect the law must be followed by swift actions to protect Syrians, including by taking all necessary measures to prevent any violations and abuses and achieve accountability when these occur.

There must be prompt, transparent and impartial investigations into all the killings and other violations, and those responsible must be held to account, in line with international law norms and standards. Groups terrorising civilians must also be held accountable.

These events, as well as the continuous spike in hate speech both online and offline, illustrate once again the urgent need for a comprehensive transitional justice process that is nationally-owned, inclusive, and centred on truth, justice and accountability”, the UN Human Rights Chief stated.

The US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio in a statement also on Sunday said that: “the United States condemns the radical Islamist terrorists, including foreign jihadis, that murdered people in western Syria in recent days. 

The United States stands with Syria’s religious and ethnic minorities, including its Christian, Druze, Alawite, and Kurdish communities, and offers its condolences to the victims and their families. 

Syria’s interim authorities must hold the perpetrators of these massacres against Syria’s minority communities accountable”, said Marco Rubio.

Osazuwa Akonedo

Osazuwa Akonedo is a Nigerian media professional, author, and consultant. His work spans various sectors of communication and literature: Journalism and Media: He is the founder of OsazuwaAkonedo, which focuses on news analysis and commentary. He also provides consultancy services in media and banking. Literature: He is a published playwright and author of Nigerian literature. One of his notable works is the drama titled The End Shall Tell: What Exam Malpractice Can Cause, which addresses educational and social issues in Nigeria. Reporting: He frequently reports on regional news, particularly concerning Edo State and broader Nigerian current affairs. Credit: Google Gemini AI Mode Osazuwa Akonedo is a Nigerian media creator, journalist, and entrepreneur who engages audiences via news reporting, social media content, music, and a mobile application. Professional Background and Company Osazuwa Akonedo is associated with OSAZUWAAKONEDO LIMITED, a company registered in Nigeria that operates in media consultancy and news services  The company is headquartered in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria, and has been active in publishing news in various formats including text, audio, video, and photos  Social Media and Online Platforms Osazuwa Akonedo maintains a strong online presence on several platforms: TikTok: Shares news updates and reports, for example, covering police operations in Nigeria  YouTube: Operates a channel where he uploads videos on current affairs and news content  Twitter/X: Active under the handle @akonedo_osazuwa, posting updates on events and news  Facebook: Profiles listing his connection to news and media activities can be found on Facebook  Mobile App: Offers a dedicated mobile application for news access through Google Play (Osazuwa Akonedo News App) providing text, video, and photo news formats  News Reporting and Content He produces news content covering national and local stories, including criminal activities, government updates, and investigative reports   His reporting spans multiple formats, making it accessible to a wide audience through online platforms, mobile apps, and social media  Other Contributions In addition to journalism, Osazuwa Akonedo has also ventured into audio releases, such as “Former Justice Minister Abubakar Malami Begs Nigerians For Justice” released on January 25, 2026   He also hosts podcasts documenting significant events, e.g, NDLEA arrests related to historical criminal cases  Summary Osazuwa Akonedo is a multifaceted media professional engaged in journalism, social media content creation, music, and technology via his news app. He utilizes platforms like TikTok, YouTube, Twitter/X, Facebook, and mobile applications to disseminate news and reach audiences both locally and internationally Credit: Azure AI

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