**Dalaal Mahna's Story Highlights the Human Toll of Resurgent Sectarian Violence in Syria**
**Syria's Alawite Families Seek Refuge Amid Surge in Sectarian Violence**
**Syria's Alawite Families Seek Refuge Amid Surge in Sectarian Violence**
**Families Shelter at Russian Airbase as Conflict Intensifies**
As sectarian violence surges in Syria, families belonging to the Alawite minority seek refuge at a remote Russian airbase. Dalaal Mahna, who lost her son to gunmen, reflects on the trauma endured by her community. Since March 6, the war has claimed over 1,400 lives, primarily in Alawite regions, amid a government crackdown on insurgents. Survivors at the airbase recount harrowing tales of loss and demand international protection from ongoing attacks. Despite official promises for accountability, skepticism lingers across the conflict-ridden landscape, as the cycle of violence seems far from ending.
Dalaal Mahna's eyes brim with tears as she recounts the day her son was taken from her. "They told me: 'We're going to kill him and break your heart with it,'" she says, remembering how he was shot dead by gunmen. The grieving mother is one of the many Alawites seeking shelter at a Russian airbase in Syria's western coastal region amid a recent surge in sectarian violence. According to war monitoring groups, more than 1,400 civilians have died since March 6, predominantly Alawites, as tensions escalated following an ambush that killed 13 security personnel in Jableh.
The resurgence of violence follows a military operation targeting insurgents loyal to deposed president Bashar al-Assad, an Alawite whose regime's downfall triggered revenge killings by Sunni factions across Alawite communities. Reports from the United Nations highlight brutal "summary executions" as families, including women and children, faced deadly retaliation. Disturbing visual evidence of the fallout—bullet-riddled vehicles and scattered bodies—underscore the dire conditions.
As safety seems elusive, many Alawite families have found refuge within the confines of the Hmeimim airbase. Conditions are dire, with thousands sharing the space while mourning losses of loved ones. Amidst the chaos, calls for international protection resonate within the community. "We left everything behind. We need protection from what we're going through," grieved one displaced woman.
While Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa has promised accountability for those responsible for the violence, mistrust remains rooted in a populace weary from enduring a longstanding conflict. The wounds inflicted by the current violence are a stark reminder of the broader sectarian rifts within a country struggling to regain peace. As the airbase swells with families fleeing strife, hopes that these wounds will heal seem increasingly distant.
Dalaal Mahna's eyes brim with tears as she recounts the day her son was taken from her. "They told me: 'We're going to kill him and break your heart with it,'" she says, remembering how he was shot dead by gunmen. The grieving mother is one of the many Alawites seeking shelter at a Russian airbase in Syria's western coastal region amid a recent surge in sectarian violence. According to war monitoring groups, more than 1,400 civilians have died since March 6, predominantly Alawites, as tensions escalated following an ambush that killed 13 security personnel in Jableh.
The resurgence of violence follows a military operation targeting insurgents loyal to deposed president Bashar al-Assad, an Alawite whose regime's downfall triggered revenge killings by Sunni factions across Alawite communities. Reports from the United Nations highlight brutal "summary executions" as families, including women and children, faced deadly retaliation. Disturbing visual evidence of the fallout—bullet-riddled vehicles and scattered bodies—underscore the dire conditions.
As safety seems elusive, many Alawite families have found refuge within the confines of the Hmeimim airbase. Conditions are dire, with thousands sharing the space while mourning losses of loved ones. Amidst the chaos, calls for international protection resonate within the community. "We left everything behind. We need protection from what we're going through," grieved one displaced woman.
While Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa has promised accountability for those responsible for the violence, mistrust remains rooted in a populace weary from enduring a longstanding conflict. The wounds inflicted by the current violence are a stark reminder of the broader sectarian rifts within a country struggling to regain peace. As the airbase swells with families fleeing strife, hopes that these wounds will heal seem increasingly distant.
