Sun Dec 28 14:02:52 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary of the article and a rewritten version as a news report:
Summary:
On December 28, 2025, sectarian violence erupted in Syria’s Alawite heartland. Protests in Latakia and Tartous, triggered by a recent bombing of an Alawite mosque in Homs, escalated into gunfire and clashes with counter-protesters. Three people were killed and over 40 wounded. The violence highlights ongoing tensions following the ouster of Bashar al-Assad and the rise of a Sunni-led government. An obscure group claimed responsibility for the mosque bombing, citing sectarian motives. Alawites have been complaining of discrimination since the regime change.
News Article:
Syria: Sectarian Violence Flares After Mosque Bombing, Three Dead in Latakia
Latakia, Syria – December 28, 2025 – Sectarian tensions in Syria boiled over today as protests turned violent in the Alawite heartland of Latakia and Tartous. The unrest follows a bombing on December 26th at the Imam Ali bin Abi Talib Mosque in Homs, which left eight dead and 18 injured.
According to the Latakia province’s media office, three people were killed and over 40 wounded in the clashes. The Syrian state news agency SANA reported one member of the security forces was killed in Latakia, attributing the gunfire to “armed remnants of the former regime.”
Thousands of protesters, primarily Alawites, took to the streets to express their anger over the mosque attack. The demonstrations were called for by Ghazal Ghazal, a sheikh living outside of Syria who heads the Supreme Alawite Islamic Council in Syria and the Diaspora. Counter-protesters also appeared, leading to violent scuffles. An AP photographer witnessed pro-government counter-protesters throwing rocks, while demonstrators beat a counter-demonstrator who crossed to their side. Security forces fired into the air in an attempt to disperse the crowds.
The Homs mosque bombing, which ignited the protests, has been claimed by a little-known group, Saraya Ansar al-Sunna. In a statement posted online, the group stated that the attack was intended to target Alawites, whom they consider apostates.
The violence underscores the persistent sectarian divisions in Syria since the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. While the civil war officially ended, the transition to a Sunni-led government has been fraught with challenges. Alawites have voiced concerns about discrimination in public employment and arbitrary detentions.
Government officials have condemned the mosque attack and promised to bring the perpetrators to justice. However, no arrests have been announced. The situation remains tense, and further unrest is feared.
First Piper 