Syrian ethnic tensions erupt in deadly clashes, questioning Europe's sanctions lift

Violent clashes broke out last week in the Syrian coastal governorates of Tartus and Latakia between government forces and “non-state armed groups” loyal to the ousted former President Bashar al-Assad.

The two governorates have a high population of Alawites, a minority group from which the al-Assad family hails.

As government forces announced they had "neutralised" the opposition, the independent Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) group reported 40 massacres had killed 973 mostly Alawite civilians, as well as hundreds of government fighters.

When Ahmed al-Sharaa toppled the al-Assad regime in December 2024, there was cautious optimism in Syria and Europe alike that the worst was over for the war-torn Middle Eastern country.

Now, some wonder whether welcoming in al-Sharaa — whose Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group was designated as terrorists by the EU — was too much, too soon.

Conflicting reports abound

While al-Sharaa has called for calm and peace in the country and formed a committee to investigate the clashes in an apparent attempt at reconciliation, not all of his supporters share his seemingly conciliatory mood — especially from the majority Sunni population, who make up 75% of the country’s citizens.

Mohammed, a former commander in the anti-al-Assad Free Syrian Army whose family were largely wiped out by al-Assad’s regime and is now working for the ministry of defence, didn’t believe the government forces deserved any blame.

“When the remnants (of al-Assad’s forces) took control of cities and villages, in a matter of hours … they started killing and shooting,” he told Euronews.

“These remnants have a history of massacres and killing the Syrian people … for 54 years,” referencing the time the al-Assad family spent in power, starting with Bashar’s father, Hafez.

These uncompromising sentiments were echoed by multiple other Syrians Euronews spoke to.

For some, the issue lies with the Alawite Shia minority's perceived connection to the al-Assad regime and repression of Sunni Muslims during that time, with one person, who asked to speak anonymously, admitting, “We’re humans, we’re not angels”.

This growing shadow of contempt adds to the fears members of the Alawite community increasingly feel. Some have spoken of “revenge killings,” and SOHR reporting is adamant that the majority of those killed were Alawite civilians, throwing claims that the group instigated the violence into doubt.

Noor’s family are Alawites living in the coastal city of Jableh, which was at the centre of the violence. While admitting that there were some people in the area still dedicated to the toppled dictator, he insists “it doesn’t exceed dozens, it’s impossible”.

Speaking to Euronews under a pseudonym due to ongoing threats, he described how the fighting unfolded. “Extremists began declaring jihad and a general mobilisation, going out to the streets and demanding the killing of Alawites,” he said.

While his family weren’t subject to violence directly, many around them were attacked.

“On our street, there was the barber and the taxi office under our building. The taxi driver was killed. A woman we know who owns a clothing store, they killed her children and her husband,” Noor said.

Ripple effects continue

The effects of the violence have not only reverberated within Syria’s borders. On Sunday, leaders of surrounding states met in Amaan to discuss the situation in the neighbouring country.

A senior Arab diplomatic source told Euronews that while Syrian leaders were invited to the meeting of foreign ministers, the same invitation was not extended to their intelligence chiefs.

After the conference, the ministers unanimously called for countries to lift sanctions introduced during the al-Assad regime to alleviate Syria’s dire economic problems, where some 90% of the population live below the poverty line, which is adding to instability.

It is something that Cairo-based international relations analyst Raphael Angieri saw first-hand when he travelled to Syria earlier this month.

“Petty theft, carjackings, violent attacks, and kidnappings are not uncommon,” he told Euronews.

“Without a speedy lifting of western sanctions, the vicious cycle of poverty and insecurity may very well result in a major escalation,” Angieri explained.

It poses crucial questions for the EU and Western allies, as the violence broke out just days after the EU and UK lifted at least some of the sanctions.

They now have to weigh up whether lifting further ones will ease tensions in the country or allow the possibility of a violent, autocratic regime to take hold and grow.

Behind closed doors, regional diplomatic sources said they were concerned by the violence but were more worried by the absence of a unified security apparatus and welcomed the recent agreement of the Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces to join a centralised army.

However, al-Sharaa’s past as the leader of the proscribed al-Qaeda affiliated group, the Jabhat al-Nusra, didn’t escape the diplomat Euronews spoke to, nor did the destabilising regional effects of the al-Assad regime, leading the source to say that they wanted “a strong Syria — but not too strong.”