Syria gripped by rising sectarian violence amid fears of social and political collapse

Incidents of sectarian violence continue to rise across various regions of Syria, raising growing concerns about the country’s future and the possibility of achieving social and political stability, amid ongoing security tensions and repeated violations in several areas.

A total of 668 criminal cases have reportedly been documented since the fall of the Baath regime, resulting in the deaths of 818 people, including children and women, reflecting a significant deterioration in security and the widening scope of societal violence.

These crimes were distributed across several Syrian provinces. From 8 December 2024 until the end of that year, 93 criminal cases were recorded, leaving 160 dead, including 153 men, 4 women, and 3 children.

In 2025, the number of criminal cases rose to 401, resulting in 464 deaths, including 354 men, 77 women, and 33 children.

So far in 2026, 174 criminal cases and unidentified killings have been documented, leading to the deaths of 194 people, including 155 men, 26 women, and 13 children.

Deadly Violent Incidents

In addition, Syria’s coastal region witnessed deadly violent incidents between 6 and 10 March 2025, following military operations announced by forces affiliated with the Syrian interim government and Turkey-backed factions, which claimed they were targeting what they described as “remnants of the former Syrian regime.”

On 29 May 2025, a report issued by an international organization monitoring crimes against humanity documented 62 sectarian massacres in coastal towns and villages over just three days, resulting in the killing of 1,676 civilians, including women and children.

The report also pointed to field executions carried out by armed men wearing official military uniforms, in addition to the kidnapping of more than 50 women who were detained in degrading conditions, along with cases described as “enslavement.”

Reuters, in an investigative report published in July 2025, documented events on the coast between 7 and 9 March, reporting that at least 1,479 people were killed and dozens went missing across more than 40 locations, amid retaliatory killings and looting.

On 27 March 2026, tensions erupted in the town of al-Suqaylabiyah in the Hama countryside after an armed group entered the town and harassed several young men and women, leading to a confrontation that included threats to detonate explosives inside the town.

Sectarian-motivated violence continues in various Syrian cities amid media blackout conditions. Some incidents have been documented, including a case at the Damascus university dormitories on 7 May, where masked individuals reportedly stormed student rooms belonging to members of the Alawite community, specifically in units 9 and 17, causing widespread fear and tension among students.

Human rights lawyer and independent politician from Suwayda, Adel al-Hadi, attributes the escalation of sectarian violence to the practices of the Syrian interim government, which assumed power in the country, as well as Turkish interference in Syrian affairs.

“No Stability Possible Amid Sectarian Incitement”

Adel al-Hadi states that achieving stability in Syria is impossible “as long as armed groups remain in control of power and official sectarian incitement against minorities continues, whether through official media or daily practices against indigenous minority populations, including killings, kidnappings, sieges, and salary deprivation, among other crimes committed by the authorities on a daily basis.”

He explains that these measures fuel further violence, hinder stability in the country, and deepen political deadlock and the widening divide within Syrian society.

He further argues that protecting civilians in Syria requires the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2254 and advancing the political transition process in accordance with it under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, or alternatively implementing Security Council Resolution 2799.