Forces of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), operating under the Syrian Interim Government, along with Salafi groups, continue their attacks on regions with a dense Alawite population. Reports indicate that in the second major assault carried out in 2025, hundreds of Alawite civilians were killed.
Zeynal Odabaş, Chair of the Alevi Cultural Associations Sultangazi Pir Sultan Abdal Cemevi; Zeynel Abidin Koç, Chair of the Alevi Associations Federation; and Ali Kenanoğlu, Co-Spokesperson of the Peoples’ Democratic Congress (HDK), spoke to ANF about the attacks targeting Alawites in Syria.
HTS is the murderer of humanity, of nature and of life
Zeynel Abidin Koç said that HTS is a murderer of humanity, stressing that the group kills not only Alawites but also nature and the environment, adding that their mentality is based on exterminating anyone who does not share their belief. Koç continued:
“When we look at that geography, this group we call HTS, which is the murderer of humanity, of nature and of life, not only of Alawites, has carried out massacres everywhere it has passed.
In order to carve out an area of domination for themselves, they are committing a second Alawite massacre on the basis of economic interests, sectarian motives and most likely the instructions of those who support them, in a geography where even among themselves they do not regard those who do not live like them as human beings. But it would not be correct to read this only as an Alawite massacre. This could also be a sign of something else: in that region, both in the south and in the east, there are different formations. To the east is the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), and further down are the Druze. This conflict may be giving us an early indication of how Syria’s future will be shaped.
We can say that dark days await Syria. It may lead to reshaping of Damascus. It is clear that the internal conflict there will not end and that the Middle East is returning to a new cycle of conflict. As Alevi people, we know that Turkey holds significant influence in that area. By using this influence, we call on our country to protect the borders of the peaceful, non-armed Alevi community and to put an end to these conflicts.”
The 10 March Agreement is a gain for Alawites
Koç highlighted the significance of the 10 March Agreement signed between the SDF and the Damascus government, saying that while Alawites often approach the issue emotionally, the agreement carries important gains for them and that HTS must comply with it. Koç said: “From where we stand, all Alawites look at this issue emotionally. They do not look at it from a perspective that encompasses the whole of the Middle East. When we examine the 10 March Agreement from here, we see that it was an agreement between the SDF and the Damascus administration. The Druze in the south and the Alawites in the west were not formally listed.
Yet when you look at the demands of the SDF, they were actually talking about a democratization package that covers the entirety of Syria. If a democratic administration were to come to all of Syria, could Alawites be left out of it? The SDF has been struggling for this for years. In the geography where the SDF operates, there are Alawites, Arabs, Kurds and members of other groups, and a model has already been created there. The SDF wants this model to be extended to the entirety of Syria. I never believed that any people in Syria would be excluded if this agreement were implemented.”
Koç added that Turkey and Syria cannot be considered separate from one another, noting that any peace process launched in Turkey would also affect Syria. Koç also said: “Turkey is not a geography separate from Syria, and Syria is not separate from Turkey. A peace and democratization process initiated by the current government in Turkey would require the implementation of a new reform that includes all communities (Alevi, Sunni, Christian, Circassian and all other groups). This reform would automatically reflect onto Syria, Iraq and Iran as well. Because whatever model is implemented in Turkey will be implemented in Syria as well.”
Everyone must listen to their conscience
Zeynal Odabaş, Chair of the Alevi Cultural Associations Sultangazi Pir Sultan Cemevi, underlined that HTS is an international terrorist group and said: “The attacks against Alevi people are the attacks of a barbaric group called HTS, a mercenary group previously defined as an international terrorist organization. They are a killer army. The cost of the war in Syria has been a massacre and plundering against Alawites, Druze and anyone with a secular mindset. The main reason behind this is the continuation of the policies pursued by Turkey, the United States and Israel in that region, and their silence in the face of the crimes against humanity being committed.
These attacks target everyone who does not think like them. Anyone who calls themselves human, anyone who wants to live together in dignity, must listen to their conscience. Those who remain silent about the massacre there, those who stay silent about the killings and the looting, are complicit in this crime. In the past, massacres were carried out against Yazidis as well. But they were able to survive because there was an organized power and resistance. Even though Assad presents himself as an Alawite, he was one of the people responsible for allowing these massacres to happen. And the mercenary group that has taken his place has a mentality no different from his.
For the Alawites, Druze and Syriacs in Syria, the only thing that has changed is the appearance of those who attack their places of worship and belief; their mentality has not changed. Those who remain silent about the massacre taking place today will be remembered as the ones responsible for these events in history.”
SDF must protect the oppressed peoples there
Odabaş said that the SDF must protect the oppressed peoples in Syria, emphasizing the importance of implementing the 10 March Agreement, and continued: “As Alevi people, our demand is for the SDF to stand by the oppressed peoples there and for the articles included in the agreement to be followed. We believe that this agreement contains the rights of everyone. It is important for us that an understanding prevails in Syria that allows every faith to express itself.
As a community that experienced Karbala 1,400 years ago, we cannot remain silent in the face of these cries today. If we remain silent, we should be ashamed. Every form of support given to HTS and this massacring mentality means supporting the massacres taking place there.
An independent international delegation must be formed. Humanitarian corridors must be opened, and aid must be allowed to reach the region. Human rights delegations from Turkey and Europe should go to the area to examine whether the agreement is being followed or violated, and they should report their findings.”
Alawites made a historical mistake
Ali Kenanoğlu, Co-Spokesperson of the HDK, said that Alawites in Syria made a historical mistake, emphasizing that their failure to build their own mechanisms of self-defense left them vulnerable. Kenanoğlu said: “There is something we must state clearly: the situation of Alawites in Syria is truly tragic. And by tragic, I mean that they are standing in a place where they are completely unprotected. When Syria descended into chaos in 2012, all other groups took their precautions. The Druze armed themselves; the northern regions armed under the umbrella of the SDF and built their own self-defense mechanisms.
The Alawites, the third major group, made a very serious mistake and continued to trust Assad. That was their biggest mistake. They assumed Assad would be a vital guarantee for their survival. But when Assad effectively disappeared overnight, the Alawites were left exposed, and the massacre process began. There had been signs before, but during that time Damascus was under Assad’s control; there was an army, there was protection. Later, however, the Alawites became completely defenseless.
This is a very serious historical mistake by the Alawites. It is a mistake from which Alawites and similar communities in the Middle East must draw lessons. Because when state authority collapses and weapons fall into the hands of various groups, massacres become inevitable unless you take your own precautions. Alawites in Syria are experiencing this in the most painful way.”
SDF made efforts to stop the massacres
Kenanoğlu said that Europe and the global public have remained silent in the face of the massacres, added that although the SDF have not been able to intervene physically, they have still made efforts to stop the killings. Kenanoğlu also said: “On the other hand, European societies and countries like the United States ignore these massacres, because they also view Alawites as supporters of Assad. The propaganda in Turkey is the same; they portray Alawites as pro-Assad, as remnants of the regime. This leads to turning a blind eye to the massacre of innocent people there.
From this perspective, Alawites are alone and unprotected. From time to time, people ask us, ‘Why isn’t the SDF protecting them?’ The SDF simply does not have the physical ability to protect them because there are forces in the area controlled by Turkey. The SDF does not have a passage corridor there through which it could intervene. Besides, the public is already aware of the efforts the SDF has made to stop this massacre.
HTS does not regard the Alawite faith as a legitimate belief, and for that reason this is a sectarian attack targeting these communities. Apart from the international community reacting and the world public showing pressure, there is not much the Alawites there can do. It has reached a point where supporters of HTS, who do not take to the streets even during Israeli attacks, come out in opposition simply because Alawites take to the streets. As Alevi people living in Turkey, we are extremely worried from now on. We are concerned because our people there are being massacred, and also because Turkey seems to view this situation as normal. This reminds us of Maraş and Çorum. It shows that the risk of us facing similar situations in the future is still very real. There is no other path but to increase public awareness and sensitivity on this issue.”
The 10 March Agreement is a gain for Alawites
Kenanoğlu emphasized that the 10 March Agreement is important for Alawites, noted that the party violating the agreement is HTS, and stressed that the agreement must be fully implemented as soon as possible. Kenanoğlu concluded his remarks as follows: “With regard to the 10 March Agreement, I would like to underline this: in Turkey, a completely distorted perception is being created around this issue. When the government speaks, they say, ‘The SDF must comply with the 10 March Agreement.’ But it is not the SDF that violated the agreement on the contrary, it was HTS that dismantled the agreement the very next day. They immediately declared sharia, announced an Arab State, and appointed ministers. It was the HTS leadership that completely abolished the 10 March Agreement. The SDF took no action that would nullify the agreement.
For Alawites as well, the agreement is one that includes them. It envisions a Damascus administration that encompasses all segments of society, with Alawites also included within it. Therefore, adherence to the agreement is a crucial step for Alawites, both for ending the massacres and for ensuring their participation in the administration. As an Alevi, I support the 10 March Agreement.”