Syrian Politician: Violence in Coast, Homs  threatens entire country

Homs has witnessed heightened security tension following a wave of violence and retaliatory attacks targeting residential neighborhoods.

This tension followed an attack by tribal groups with sectarian ideas on neighborhoods with a majority Alawite population in Homs, amid chaos and absence of security measures during the initial hours of the escalation.

Distortion of Reality and Justification for Lawlessness

Dr. Tarek Al-Ahmad told ANHA agency: “The reasons behind the recent frightening and painful events in Homs are entirely different from the narratives spread on social media and newspapers, especially those affiliated with the current de facto authority. For example, the perpetrators who killed men and women in Zaidal village are from the same tribe and clan that attacked members of another sect under a religious pretext (the Alawites), yet news began to claim the reasons were financial, or related to smuggling, although they were originally outside the official framework.”

He added: “Even if someone from the targeted sect committed a crime, does that justify completely violating the community, making shootings normal, preventing people from going to work, threatening them with death, and leaving families unable to know the fate of children at school? The most dangerous aspect is how easily this occurs—I speak from direct observation, as I am personally from this area and have relatives there.”

“De Facto Authority” Bears the Greatest Responsibility

Al-Ahmad continued: “The initial public security response was ineffective. Some public security members helped the attackers since they were from the same social fabric. But after orders from Damascus and reinforcements arrived, the situation changed and security regained control.”

He noted: “When discussing causes, we must look at their roots. Even if a criminal comes from the targeted sect, does that justify violating an entire community? And what if retaliatory attacks target innocent people from the other side?”

Media and Politics Facilitate These Crimes

Al-Ahmad said: “One of the biggest problems last year was the manipulation of public awareness by supporters of the de facto authority. Its media has justified everything, blaming remnants of the old regime, which is not true.

He emphasized: “The de facto authority is directly responsible because it disarmed people based on sectarian affiliation. Since the first months, villages and areas were violated, and members of this sect were threatened as being responsible for the previous regime, which contradicts reality.”

These Events threaten entire Syria

Regarding future developments, Al-Ahmad said: “The situation depends on the seriousness of the de facto authority in dealing with the event. Yesterday’s events had positive points compared to its handling of the coastal massacres, in terms of rapid response.”

He warned: “What is happening in Homs concerns the fate of Syria as a nation. This is not an ordinary crime or a major security event—it is a situation that could reignite the country and trigger civil war.”

Messages to the Transitional Government

Al-Ahmad said: “The de facto authority must be serious. After a year since the fall of the regime and taking power, it must completely break with last year’s approach. According to UN Security Council Resolution 2799, it must dismantle the system built on factions and the narrative ‘the liberator decides,’ and on clerical domination over ministries with sectarian logic. It must build a new system and reach out to parties and civil society, as stipulated in Resolution 2254, with participation of all components of the people.”

He concluded: “ General Security shouldn't be from a single sect. Even under the previous regime, despite its dictatorship and corruption, this was not the case. Today’s situation is hypocrisy, reinforcing the de facto authority based on factions. Anyone criticizing this is accused of supporting the previous regime, silencing the truth.”

ANHA