THERE were valid fears of sectarian and religious bloodshed when anti-Assad militants triumphantly marched into Damascus last December. Yet then rebel leader and now interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, who traded in his jihadi fatigues for sharp suits, promised the world that there would be no place for such bloodshed in the new Syria. His promise has been severely tested as a spasm of bloodshed has rocked the Arab state over the past few days. There were initial reports of clashes last week between armed Assad loyalists and government forces in the coastal Alawi heartland. However, more horrific details have emerged, of Alawi families being butchered, or their possessions looted. According to a UK-based war monitor, nearly 1,000 civilians have been killed in the violence, most of them belonging to the Alawi community, to which Bashar al-Assad also belongs. Eyewitnesses say children were slaughtered by pro-government militants, while the attackers repeatedly said they would finish off members of the minority community. Some victims say that non-Syrian fighters, including Chechens and Uzbeks, were involved in the rampage. The bloodbath only subsided after the Syrian administration sent in troops to control the marauding militant groups.

Syria stands at a very dangerous junction. Mr Assad and his brutal regime may be gone, but the country is far from achieving stability. The fact is that the transition from religious militancy to democratic statecraft is proving to be a difficult one. Mr Sharaa — known for his fiery jihadi rhetoric when he was better known as Abu Mohammad al-Jolani — has promised moderation, but the fact is that many fairly extreme militant factions still operate in Syria. In fact, many foreign militants have been given positions in the Syrian administration. Controlling these factions will be essential if Syria’s rulers are serious in assuring the world there is no room for extremists in their country. Further complicating matters is the fact that Israel has expanded its occupation of Syrian territory. For Syria to rebuild, all foreign forces must stop their interventionist activities, while Damascus must disarm or expel all sectarian and extremist groups active in the country. This will be easier said than done as many of these outfits helped Mr Sharaa achieve victory. The interim Syrian leader has promised accountability for the recent sectarian massacres. He will need to act fast before such atrocities become the norm.

Published in Dawn, March 12th, 2025