Sectarian violence kills 12 civilians in Syria, monitor says

Twelve civilians, mostly Alawites, were killed in two sectarian attacks in Syria on March 31st, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, The New Arab and agencies reported on March 31st.

In Tartus, gunmen stormed an Alawite area, killing six. All the while another attack in Homs claimed five Alawite and two Sunni lives. The violence follows Assad’s December overthrow, which ended 14 years of civil war. Earlier this month, over 1,700 civilians, mostly Alawites, were massacred in the group’s coastal stronghold.

Interim President, Ahmed al-Sharaa, vowed to prosecute those responsible and launched a fact-finding committee. Despite promises of minority protection, Alawite communities fear ongoing reprisals.

The New Arab and agencies