By: Dr. Adnan Bouzan 

The Syrian coast has never been far from the horrors of war, but today, it faces a new chapter of tragedy, turning into a battleground for sectarian score-settling and collective retaliation at the hands of the "New Damascus Authority," led by Ahmad Al-Sharaa (Abu Muhammad Al-Jolani). After consolidating its control over Damascus, this authority launched a systematic campaign to exterminate the Alawite population in the Syrian coast, indiscriminately targeting civilians and combatants alike—whether they supported the former regime or were merely victims of it.

1- Identity-Based Genocide: From Aerial Bombardment to Field Executions

The scenes emerging from the Syrian coast are horrifying. Summary executions are filmed and broadcast to terrorize the population. Men are dragged through the streets before being executed, women are forcibly displaced, and entire families are wiped out simply because of their sectarian identity.

The same warplanes and barrel bombs once used for repression by the old Damascus regime are now in the hands of Al-Jolani’s authority, which justifies its crimes under the pretext of "eradicating remnants of the regime." In reality, this is nothing more than a systematic campaign of extermination targeting anyone belonging to the Alawite sect, regardless of their political stance or involvement in the conflict.

2- "We Did Not Take Part in the War... Why Are We Being Killed?"

Many Alawite activists warn of silent massacres, affirming that thousands of civilians with no involvement in the conflict are now subjected to systematic ethnic cleansing. The persecution is not limited to former military personnel or government officials but extends to civilians in their homes. Houses are raided, men are abducted, and young people are executed in public squares, all amid suspicious international silence.

One survivor recounts:

"We never carried weapons, nor were we part of any faction, but they are hunting us down just because we are Alawites. They want to erase us from existence."

3- The International Community: Silence on the Crime

Despite these horrifying scenes, the international community remains silent, as if a genocide is unfolding before the world’s eyes with no response. There are no international condemnations, no UN reports, and not even political pressure to stop what is happening. On the contrary, Al-Jolani's authority is being promoted as a "moderate" political alternative, while in reality, it is committing some of the most brutal forms of ethnic cleansing.

4- Where Is the Syrian Coast Headed?

The Syrian coast is now trapped in a cycle of death—caught between a relentless war machine that has raged for over a decade and a new authority that practices terrorism under the guise of "justice." The question is not just how the population will survive this catastrophe, but also how to stop this genocide before it deepens into a tragedy that fuels cycles of hatred and vengeance for generations to come.

A radical solution must be found to put an end to this farce, which stems from the control of a Daesh-like authority in Damascus that carries out mass killings and ethnic cleansing under false pretenses. If these conditions persist, the future of the Syrian coast and its people will be one of extermination or forced displacement. This leaves only one viable solution: severing ties with this bloodthirsty regime.

The division of Syria is now a looming reality, and the Syrian coast cannot remain hostage to sectarian wars imposed by forces seeking domination at any cost. Secession from this decaying entity may be the only viable option to ensure the survival of the coastal population—free from the killing machine that has spared no one, whether under the previous regime or under Al-Jolani's rule today.