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New York Times Reveals Details of Banias Events... and Sectarian Violence on the Syrian Coast
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The targeting of civilians on a sectarian basis reflects a heavy legacy of discrimination policies, which led to deepening societal divisions and fueling tensions between components of Syrian society
The American newspaper "New York Times" reviewed horrific details about the events that took place in the coastal city of Banias last March, where the city experienced days of terror as a result of sectarian violence that claimed the lives of hundreds of civilians.
The report, which was based on testimonies from more than 40 local residents, local officials, and human rights organizations, explained how the coastal city turned into a scene of bloody violence that particularly targeted civilians from the Alawite sect.
Journalists who managed to reach the city briefly during the events conveyed their observations about the state of destruction that befell the city, as burned cars spread in the streets, shops were looted, and their windows were shattered.
Eyewitnesses reported that armed groups invaded the city and targeted civilians in their homes, carrying out liquidation operations based on sectarian identity, and shooting citizens in the streets.
The report tells painful stories of civilians who lost family members, such as Saba who witnessed the killing of her father and brother before her eyes, and Jihan whose brother was kidnapped before his body was found riddled with bullets.
Amid the chaos, thousands of civilians fled the city, with some taking refuge in nearby forests, while others tried to pass through checkpoints set up by gunmen to leave the city.
The newspaper indicates that some Sunni Muslims in the city tried to help their Alawite neighbors escape, risking their lives to save them from sectarian violence. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the events that lasted three days resulted in the killing of at least 368 people in Banias alone, including 13 children.
The report explained that the Syrian Interim Caretaker Government denied the involvement of its forces in the violence, and announced the formation of two committees to investigate the events and protect civilians from the Alawite component.
The report highlights the new government's weak control over the various armed groups under its banner, which include extremist elements carrying vengeful agendas.
This turbulent situation reflects the importance of adopting a federal decentralized system of governance in Syria, whereby each region enjoys the powers to manage its security and community affairs, ensuring the protection of all components from targeting and discrimination.
Analysts point out that the continuation of sectarian violence represents an extension of the policies of discrimination and exclusion practiced by the previous regime headed by Bashar al-Assad, which entrenched societal divisions and deepened the gap between the components of Syrian society.
The suffering of civilians continues, as thousands of them remain displaced, either in Lebanon or in other areas of Syria, unable to return to their homes for fear of renewed violence.
