Sectarian Tensions Flare in Post-Assad Syria as Disinformation Campaign Targets Alawi Community
Damascus, Syria – The Alawi-majority neighborhood of Mezzeh 86 in Damascus remains under tight security following a sudden outbreak of unrest. Checkpoints restrict access to the area after scores of youths, some armed, took to the streets on Wednesday night, demanding rights for their community. The protests were sparked by a video, purportedly showing a recent attack on an Alawi shrine in Aleppo. However, the shrine’s custodians later clarified that the incident occurred weeks earlier during the HTS-led takeover of Aleppo and warned against its use to incite sectarian strife. The incident underscores the fragile peace in a nation grappling with the aftermath of Assad’s overthrow and the rise of a new ruling power, Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).
The unrest in Mezzeh 86 mirrors similar demonstrations in other Alawi areas, including Latakia, Tartus, and Homs, all fueled by the circulated video. While HTS, the dominant rebel group that ousted Assad, intervened to disperse the crowds in Mezzeh 86 and has since called for the surrender of weapons, anxieties remain high within the Alawi community. Many fear reprisals due to their association with the former regime, despite HTS assurances of protection for all minorities. The situation is further complicated by accusations of a coordinated disinformation campaign targeting Alawis, exploiting existing anxieties and fueling distrust.
Fact-checking organization Verify Syria points to a concerted effort by accounts linked to Assad’s ousted regime, Russia, Iran, and Hezbollah to amplify the shrine video and similar narratives to sow discord. This tactic, they note, has been employed since the start of the revolution in 2011. Worryingly, similar disinformation is also being spread by accounts linked to Egypt and Gulf states, potentially widening the conflict and undermining the nascent stability in Syria. The disinformation campaign extends beyond the shrine attack, with old videos of atrocities committed by groups like ISIS being misrepresented as recent sectarian violence.
The disinformation campaign coincides with HTS’s pursuit of former Assad officials and soldiers in the Alawi heartlands of Latakia and Tartus. Clashes in Tartus have already resulted in casualties on both sides and the capture of a general allegedly involved in atrocities at Sednaya prison. Verify Syria suggests that the incitement of Alawi unrest might be a tactic to provide cover for fleeing officials. Adding to the tension, a recent speech by Iran’s Supreme Leader, urging Syrian youth to resist those creating “insecurity,” has been met with sharp criticism from Syria’s new foreign minister, who warned Tehran against “spreading chaos.”
Amid the escalating tensions, the Alawi community expresses feelings of vulnerability. While HTS has pledged to protect minorities, the unexplained murder of three Alawi judges and the targeted disinformation campaign have eroded trust. Many Alawis, like Ali, a fitness coach in Mezzeh 86, feel caught in the crossfire, fearing reprisals for their perceived association with the former regime despite being “Syrians like everyone else.” They seek reassurance from HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, hoping for a message of unity and safety.
The Alawi community’s historical ties to the Assad regime are complex. While many served in the security forces, driven by economic necessity and fears of persecution, they have also suffered significant losses during the conflict. Residents of Mezzeh 86, an impoverished neighborhood, feel betrayed by Assad, whose rule only benefited his inner circle. They now seek recognition for their sacrifices and assurances of a better future under the new leadership. They emphasize their shared Syrian identity and the need to move beyond sectarian divisions. Young Alawis, like Abu Ali, who lost friends fighting for Assad, yearn for a new Syria where they are acknowledged as victims of the conflict, not just associated with the former regime. They hope for a future where all Syrians, regardless of their background, can rebuild their lives together.