Over 340 killed in Syrian crackdown on Alawites

More than 340 people, including women and children, have been killed in Syria's coastal Alawite region since Thursday, according to a war monitor. This violence marks the worst outbreak in years amid a crackdown by the new Islamist rulers. The authorities claim they are targeting a nascent insurgency linked to former president Bashar al-Assad. However, reports indicate widespread killings, including execution-style murders, raising concerns about the ruling authority's governance. Thousands of Alawite and Christian residents have fled their homes, seeking safety at a Russian military base. Reports of ongoing violence, including looting and arson, continue to emerge from the affected areas.