Three killed, 60 injured in attacks during protests calling for ‘federalism’ on Syria’s coast

• At least three people were killed and dozens injured as alawite protests in Latakia turned violent following the mosque attack in Homs.

At least three people were killed Sunday during protests by Alawites in western Syria, according to the Syrian Ministry of Health.

Thousands of residents of Latakia province, a region with a predominantly alawite population, joined demonstrations called by a religious Alawite authority.

The protests followed a deadly explosion at a mosque in an Alawite neighborhood in Homs.

What happened today

By midday Sunday, hundreds of peaceful demonstrators had gathered in Latakia, according to AFP correspondents.

The protests soon turned violent when counter-demonstrations were staged by others. The army and security forces, deployed in large numbers, reportedly opened fire to disperse the crowds.

Authorities have not acknowledged firing on protesters but said the situation was “contained.” A statement from the head of internal security in Latakia accused loyalists of the former president Bashar al-Assad of firing in the air and attacking security forces, injuring personnel, and damaging vehicles.

Later, the Syrian state news agency cited the Latakia health directorate, reporting “three deaths and 60 injuries caused by attacks from remnants of the former regime against security forces and civilians during the protests.”

Calls for political rights and federalism

The protests were organized following appeals by Sheikh Ghazal Ghazal, head of the Supreme Alawite Islamic Council in Syria and the diaspora. In a video message posted on Facebook, he urged people to demonstrate peacefully, emphasizing that the Alawite community “cannot be humiliated or marginalized.”

“We do not want a civil war; we want political federalism,” he said. “We do not want your terrorism; we want the right to self-determination.”

Demonstrators carried his images and banners calling for a decentralized political system, chanting slogans against sectarian rhetoric.

Hadeel Saleh, a 40-year-old housewife, said, “Our demand is federalism first to protect lives. Alawite blood is not cheap, and Syrian blood in general is not cheap. We are being killed because we are Alawites.”

Sectarian violence and historical context

The mosque attack, claimed by a group calling itself the “Saraya Ahl al-Sunnah,” is the latest in a series of attacks against Alawites since the fall of Assad in December 2024.

Syria has experienced multiple waves of sectarian violence. A national investigation committee reported at least 1,426 Alawite deaths.

In March, the coastal region witnessed deadly clashes after authorities accused Assad loyalists of attacking security forces. Prior and subsequent crackdowns also targeted alawite-majority areas, where many had been strongholds of the former regime.

Protesters on Sunday also called for the release of detainees from previous crackdowns. Syrian state television reported the release of 70 detainees in Latakia, with more expected to follow.