Amidst a surge in sectarian attacks, Syrian families, particularly from the Alawite minority, have sought refuge at a Russian military airbase. Reports confirm over 1,400 civilian deaths since March 6, with many Alawites targeted. Dalaal Mahna, who lost her son, and other survivors share chilling accounts of violence as they call for protection and accountability.
Syrian Families Seek Refuge at Russian Airbase Amidst Sectarian Violence
Syrian Families Seek Refuge at Russian Airbase Amidst Sectarian Violence
Alawite families, fleeing escalating violence in Syria, find temporary shelter at a Russian airbase as survivors share harrowing experiences.
Dalaal Mahna is filled with sorrow as she recounts the moment she lost her only child. "My son was just 25 years old," she says, eyes brimming with tears. "They took him right from my side and told me: 'We're going to kill him and break your heart with it.'" Since that fateful day, Dalaal has been one of the many seeking sanctuary at a Russian airbase in western Syria, as sectarian violence surges.
Over 1,400 civilians have reportedly been killed since March 6, with most casualties being from the Alawite minority, according to a war monitoring group. This violence escalated after the death of security personnel in an ambush, prompting repressive measures from security forces against Alawite communities. Whole families, including women and children, fell victim to the retaliatory strikes that followed, raising alarming concerns highlighted by the United Nations. The UN human rights office verified 111 civilian deaths but suggested the actual figure is much higher, with numerous cases described as summary executions.
In the wake of the violence, reinforcements flooded the coastal area where a recent car attack left bodies strewn along the highway, the fate of those inside unknown. Sources from the Syrian military noted that many of the attackers managed to withdraw into the nearby mountains before troops deployed heavy reinforcements.
In the chaos, residents fled to avoid further violence, often sleeping outdoors for days. The few who returned to their homes did so cautiously, such as Wafiq Ismail, who witnessed the horrors but refrained from discussing details, expressing only a desire for safety.
In the territories where Syrian security forces' control ends, the Russian Hmeimim airbase stands as a haven for thousands of displaced Alawite families. Living in tough conditions, many bear the weight of grief from lost loved ones. "We need international protection from what we're going through," pleaded one woman, underscoring the dire circumstances faced by families forced to abandon their homes.
Despite calls for accountability from Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa for the violence's instigators, skepticism lingers. Amid ongoing sectarian strife, wounds inflicted on Syria's scarred population will take time, if ever, to heal.
