Over 1,000 People Dead, Women Paraded Naked: Syria Witnesses Revenge Killings After Assad's Ouster
The clashes, which erupted Thursday, marked a major escalation in the challenge to the new government in Damascus, three months after insurgents took authority after removing Assad from power.
Syria witnessed one of the deadliest clashes between security forces and loyalists of the ousted President Bashar al-Assad, killing over 1,000 people in two days.
In the clashes that erupted on Thursday, women were reportedly stripped and paraded naked in the streets before being shot dead, witnesses told the Associated Press while describing horrific experiences of violence.
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The violence began after the gunmen in favour of the current regime went on a revenge killing spree against the Alawite minority sect, which was loyal to Assad.
After the loss of lives, the government regained control over most areas, leading to a temporary halt in the violence. The authorities shut all roads leading to the region where the violence was concentrated.
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, 745 civilians were killed in the clashes, most of whom were shot from a close range. 125 government security force personnel and 148 militants with armed groups linked to Assad have died.
Under Assad, Alawites were posted in high ranks in the military and other privileged positions, however, they have been brought down from riches to rags and have been a repeated target for their association with the former President. Their change of fortunes took place after Assad was ousted from power by rebels three months ago, bringing an end to the years-long civil war.
The residents of Alawite villages said that people’s homes were looted and set on fire in the violence.
Lebanese politician Haidar Nasser, who occupies one of the two parliamentary seats reserved for the Alawite sect, stated that members of the community are fleeing Syria to Lebanon for safety reasons.
In one of the towns that was the victim of the clashes – Baniyas – bodies were seen lying on the roads and on the roofs of buildings. The gunmen had barred the civilians from burying them.
The gunmen fired and killed people randomly and turned their buildings and cars into ashes.
(With inputs from AP)
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