Damascus: Syria’s interim President Ahmed Sharaa has condemned the mass killings of Alawites following the fall of Bashar al-Assad, warning that such violence threatens national unity. He vowed to hold those responsible accountable, even if they are among his own allies.
In his first interview with a global news agency, conducted after four days of deadly clashes between Alawite Muslims and Syria’s new Sunni Islamist authorities, Sharaa pointed to pro-Assad factions supported by foreign entities as instigators of the bloodshed. However, he also acknowledged the wave of retaliatory violence that followed.
“Syria is a state of law. The law will take its course on all,” Sharaa told Reuters from the Damascus presidential palace, where Assad resided until his ouster on December 8. “We fought to defend the oppressed, and we won’t accept that any blood be shed unjustly or go without punishment or accountability, even among those closest to us.”
Syria's interim President Ahmed Sharaa said mass killings of members of ousted President Bashar al-Assad's minority sect were a threat to his mission to unite the country and promised to punish those responsible https://t.co/0BkeFQ0LG9 pic.twitter.com/aWlL3UIoWX
— Reuters (@Reuters) March 11, 2025
Calls for Justice and International Engagement
Sharaa emphasized the rule of law and announced the formation of an independent committee to investigate the killings. He also revealed that his government had not established contact with the United States since President Donald Trump took office but reiterated calls for Washington to lift sanctions imposed during the Assad era.
He also signaled openness to discussions with Moscow, Assad’s longtime backer, particularly regarding Russia’s military presence in Syria. Moscow has sought to retain control of two key military bases in the country. Meanwhile, Sharaa rejected Israeli criticism following reports that Israel had seized territory in southern Syria post-Assad’s removal.
Addressing internal divisions, Sharaa indicated his willingness to engage with Kurdish factions, including the leader of a U.S.-backed Kurdish group, in an effort to negotiate a political settlement.
Unrest and Response to Violence
Sharaa blamed the recent outbreak of violence on a former military unit loyal to Assad’s brother and an unnamed foreign power. He acknowledged, however, that “many parties entered the Syrian coast, and many violations occurred. It became an opportunity for revenge after years of pent-up grievances.”
The interim leader confirmed that 200 security personnel had been killed but declined to provide an overall death toll, pending the results of the independent investigation. A UK-based war monitor, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, estimated that at least 973 Alawite civilians had died in reprisal attacks, in addition to over 250 Alawite fighters and 230 security personnel killed in the fighting.
Challenges of Governance
A former guerrilla commander with roots in an Islamist insurgency, the 42-year-old Sharaa spoke in measured tones throughout the interview. His entourage of young, bearded men appeared unfamiliar with the formalities of the presidential palace, reflecting the contrast between their past as militants and their present in government.
“To be honest, my chest tightens in this palace. I’m astonished by how much evil against society emanated from every corner,” Sharaa said.
Despite his forces’ pledge to rule inclusively—embracing Sunnis, Alawites, Druze, Christians, Shi’ites, Kurds, and Armenians—Sharaa faces mounting challenges. Syria’s economy remains in ruins, large parts of the country, including the oil-rich northeast, remain outside government control, and Israel continues to conduct airstrikes and incursions.
Recognizing that the recent violence threatens national reconciliation, Sharaa stressed the need to restore stability. “It will impact this path,” he admitted. “But we will rectify the situation as much as we can.”
To this end, his administration has set up a second committee to facilitate civil peace and reconciliation, as “blood begets more blood.” While declining to specify whether foreign jihadist fighters, Islamist factions, or his own security forces were involved in the killings, he insisted that the fact-finding body would examine all evidence, including graphic execution videos circulating on social media.
The violence has forced thousands of Alawites to flee coastal cities like Latakia, Banyas, and Jableh, seeking refuge in mountainous regions or across the Lebanese border. Sharaa accused Assad loyalists from the 4th Division, led by Maher al-Assad, of inciting the clashes, allegedly with the support of a foreign power. While he refrained from naming this entity, he alluded to “parties that had lost out from the new reality in Syria”—a possible reference to Iran, which has denied involvement.
International Reactions and Diplomatic Efforts
Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkey have expressed strong support for Sharaa’s administration, while former Assad ally Russia voiced deep concerns over the violence. Iran, in contrast, warned against the oppression of any group. Meanwhile, Washington blamed “radical Islamist terrorists, including foreign jihadis” for the turmoil.
Sharaa linked Syria’s security and economic recovery to the removal of U.S. sanctions. “We cannot establish security in the country with sanctions still in place against us,” he stated, emphasizing that Syria remained open to dialogue. However, skepticism over his past ties to Al-Qaeda has hindered any engagement with the U.S. government since he took power.
“The Syrian file is not on the U.S.’s list of priorities. You should ask this question to them. Syria’s door is open,” he remarked.
Negotiations with Russia and Regional Stability
Talks with Moscow continue regarding its military presence at the Tartous naval base and Hmeimim airbase. While both nations have agreed to reassess previous agreements, discussions have yet to yield concrete results.
“We do not want there to be a rift between Syria and Russia, and we do not want the Russian presence in Syria to pose a danger or threat to any country in the world. We want to preserve these deep strategic relations,” Sharaa explained.
He further revealed that, despite past Russian bombardments, his forces refrained from retaliating in an effort to leave room for diplomatic negotiations post-Assad.
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Meanwhile, Syria’s fractured landscape remains volatile. In the northeast, Turkish-backed groups continue to clash with Kurdish forces controlling much of the country’s oil resources. Damascus is yet to impose full authority over the region, though talks are ongoing with U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) commander Mazloum Abdi.
Sharaa signaled his willingness to negotiate. “We want a political resolution and will meet with Abdi.”
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The situation remains precarious in southern Syria as well, where Israel has declared a demilitarized zone and warned of retaliation should Sharaa’s forces advance. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz labeled Sharaa “a jihadist terrorist of the al-Qaeda school who is committing horrifying acts against a civilian population.”
Dismissing Israeli allegations, Sharaa responded, “They are the last ones who can talk,” citing Israeli military actions in Gaza and Lebanon over the past 18 months.
