Mon Dec 29 16:09:24 UTC 2025: Summary:

Following a deadly mosque bombing in Homs that killed at least eight people, protests have erupted across Syria’s coastal regions, primarily among the Alawite minority. The Alawites are demanding security guarantees, accountability for attacks, political reforms, and even considering political federalism. Clashes have broken out between Alawite protesters and counter-protesters, leading to violence and casualties in cities like Latakia and Tartous. The Syrian government has condemned the mosque attack, but the unrest highlights the enduring sectarian divides and the government’s limited authority. Experts warn of a potential descent into deeper ethnic and sectarian violence, drawing parallels to Iraq after the 2003 invasion.

News Article:

Sectarian Unrest Grips Syrian Coast After Mosque Bombing

Latakia, Syria – A wave of protests has erupted across Syria’s Mediterranean coast following a deadly bombing at an Alawite mosque in Homs on Friday, which claimed at least eight lives. The Alawite community, a religious minority, is demanding greater security, political reforms, and accountability for attacks targeting civilians.

The protests have escalated into clashes between Alawite demonstrators and counter-protesters supporting the interim government in cities like Latakia and Tartous. Syrian state news agency SANA reported multiple fatalities and injuries, attributing them to stabbings, stone-throwing, and gunfire.

The mosque attack, claimed by the militant group Saraya Ansar al-Sunna, has reignited long-simmering sectarian tensions in the nation still recovering from a 14-year civil war. Alawite religious figure Ghazal Ghazal, leading the Supreme Alawite Islamic Council in Syria and Abroad, has called for political federalism, allowing the community to determine its own destiny.

The Syrian Ministry of Defence has deployed army units to restore order, while the government condemns the mosque attack as an attempt to destabilize the country. However, experts warn that the unrest underscores the fragility of Syria’s unity and the risk of further fragmentation along sectarian lines.

“Syria stands on the edge of a very, very dangerous precipice,” warned Rob Geist Pinfold, a scholar of international security at King’s College London, drawing a comparison to Iraq’s descent into sectarian violence after 2003.

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