The Head of the Supreme Islamic Council of Syria and Diaspora Alawites, Sheikh Ghazal Ghazal, issued a statement yesterday regarding attacks carried out by armed groups against neighborhoods with a majority Alawite population in the city of Homs, calling for peaceful demonstrations.
Ghazal’s call was followed by a security alert and mobilization in cities and towns along Syria’s coastal areas. New checkpoints were established and military units deployed in the regions of Hama, Tal Salhab, Deir Shamil, Nahr al-Bared, and al-Saqliyah.
Leading figures in the Alawite community received widespread support in digital media. On the other hand, some social media pages supporting the Syrian Transitional Government were found to be posting threatening messages targeting individuals who consider participating in the protests.