Sectarian killings surge in Syria’s Homs as minorities face revenge attacks

HOMS, Syria (MNTV) — A surge of sectarian violence has swept across parts of western Syria following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, with members of Alawite and Christian communities increasingly targeted in apparent revenge attacks that have reignited old divisions and fears of persecution.

In Homs province and surrounding areas, residents report near-daily shootings and kidnappings directed at people linked to the former regime, according to local sources and rights monitors. Many attacks follow a similar pattern — masked gunmen on motorbikes opening fire before escaping — reflecting the fragile security situation in the country’s post-war landscape.

Among the recent victims were Wissam and Shafiq Mansour, Christian cousins killed on October 1 while sitting outside a café in the village of Anaz. Witnesses said the assailant fled immediately after the attack. Wissam’s father, George Mansour, accused authorities of leaving minority villages “defenseless,” claiming that residents were disarmed while nearby communities remained armed.

Fear and grief have gripped the region, where many Christians and Alawites were seen as aligned with Assad’s government. Wissam, a former member of a pro-regime militia, is believed to have been targeted for his past affiliation.

Days before the Mansour cousins’ killing, an Alawite shopkeeper, Shaaban Al Ezzeldin, was fatally shot outside his business in Homs. His brother, Adnan, said the attack was driven by sectarian motives, warning that such violence could trigger displacement.

“What’s happening is the seed for forced emigration,” he said. “Someone is trying to destroy the coexistence we’ve had for centuries.”

Local reports and rights groups indicate that at least 40 Alawites have been killed in targeted attacks in Homs between June and October, including a teacher, a student, and a 14-year-old girl named Ghina, who was shot dead on August 19 while standing on her balcony shortly after neighbors gathered to celebrate her exam results.

Her mother said her family was targeted because of their background and has since kept her surviving children at home out of fear.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) has documented a rise in sectarian attacks in Homs province, many of which appear to be retaliatory acts against individuals perceived as having ties to the former regime.

The interim government in Damascus has pledged to protect all citizens, with Justice Minister Mazhar al-Wais vowing earlier this year that suspects involved in sectarian killings will face public trials.

Despite these assurances, mistrust remains high. Many minority families continue to leave mixed areas amid the continuing atmosphere of fear and vengeance.

“I lost my brother, others lost their loved ones too,” said Adnan Al Ezzeldin, glancing at a photo of Shaaban with his sons. “If we are all going to be killed, it’s better we leave.”