Alawites face violent reprisals following Assad's ousting

The Alawite community in Syria, previously empowered under Bashar al-Assad, now faces violent reprisals following his ousting. Over 1,000 people have been killed in recent attacks, including many Alawites, as power dynamics shift in the country. The violence has intensified in Latakia, where Syrian security forces reportedly executed at least 162 Alawites. The new government, in power for three months, claims to be responding to attacks from remnants of Assad's forces while downplaying the killings. Eyewitnesses describe brutal scenes in Alawite villages, with gunmen executing civilians and looting homes. Thousands have fled to the mountains, and international reactions include France's condemnation of the violence and calls for independent investigations into the killings.