Damascus, Syria – On Sunday, the Syrian coastal cities and some neighborhoods in Homs witnessed a dangerous escalation of violence. Dozens of protesters sustained injuries of varying severity after security forces suppressed mass demonstrations demanding a federal system of government and an end to human rights abuses.
Scenes of violent repression: bullets and machetes
Field reports and activists reported violent clashes, concentrated in al-Azhari roundabout in Latakia and al-Amara roundabout in Jableh. Videos documented attacks on peaceful protesters described as brutal, in which members of the General Security forces and pro-government groups used live ammunition and bladed weapons (machetes and knives). They also attempted to run over protesters and assaulted them with batons, resulting in several serious injuries.
The crackdown and arrests extended to the al-Qusour neighborhood in Banias and the al-Zahraa neighborhood in Homs. This occurred amidst heightened security measures and the closure of main roads. Barriers were also erected to prevent crowds from reaching assembly points.
Syrian Observatory: “New Shabiha” following in the footsteps of the former regime
Under the headline “Following in Bashar al-Assad’s Footsteps: The New Shabiha Suppress Alawite Protests,” the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that thousands responded to Sheikh Ghazal Ghazal’s (head of the Supreme Alawite Islamic Council) call for peaceful demonstrations. The Observatory confirmed that the protesters emphasized their commitment to peacefully demanding civil and political rights and the right to self-determination. However, they faced repression reminiscent of the practices of the former regime.
The official narrative: “saboteurs and armed elements”
In contrast, the transitional authorities presented a different account; state media reported that protesters had attacked members of the internal security forces. Vehicles were also vandalized and set on fire at the Azhari roundabout.
For his part, the head of internal security in Latakia, Brigadier General Abdul Aziz al-Ahmad, announced the detection of “masked and armed” members belonging to the “Saraya Shield of the Coast” and “Saraya al-Jawad” groups among the demonstrators. Al-Ahmad accused these groups of being behind the violence and previous attacks on the M1 highway. He justified the security intervention as necessary to “ensure stability and pursue the saboteurs.”
