Sectarian Tensions in Damascus: Silent Night of Violence

In early March, masked men stormed homes in Damascus, targeting Alawite families with raids and detentions. Amid fears of sectarian conflict, the government downplayed the scope. Witnesses reported deaths and disappearances, while calls for accountability mount in response to these unverified but alarming events.

Masked men launched overnight raids in Damascus in early March, targeting Alawite families and detaining over two dozen unarmed men, witnesses reported. The masked attackers, some claiming to be from the General Security Service, left at least eight confirmed dead.

The violence erupted soon after an insurgency by Alawite loyalists to Assad on Syria's northwestern coast provoked retaliation. Despite government efforts to localize the conflict, accounts from witnesses suggest a broader sectarian violence reaching the Syrian capital's al-Qadam neighborhood.

Calls for a comprehensive investigation arise amid fears of ongoing impunity. Relatives of the missing and dead seek answers and accountability, as reports indicate that many have fled or are living in fear due to their sectarian identity.

(With inputs from agencies.)