Syrian security forces ‘oversaw’ armed civilians who killed Alawites, accused man says

In early March, a wave of sectarian violence in Syria targeted the Alawite minority, resulting in the deaths of nearly 900 civilians, primarily Alawites, as pro-government forces and various militia groups retaliated against former regime loyalists. Abu Khalid, an armed civilian, claimed that government security forces advised his group to refrain from harming civilians, yet he later filmed himself killing unarmed Mahmoud Yusef Mohammed, raising questions about the accountability of security forces. Witnesses reported multiple armed groups conducting summary executions of Alawites, further exacerbating the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the region.