158 Civilians Killed in Three Massacres by Extremist Groups in Syria on Wednesday

Damascus – SABA:

On Wednesday, 158 civilians, the majority of whom belonged to the Alawite sect, were killed in three massacres carried out by extremist groups in Syria.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the number of documented massacres has now reached 50, while the total civilian death toll in the coastal region has risen to 1,383 since March 6.

The breakdown of Wednesday’s massacres across Syrian provinces is as follows:

• Tartous: 49 victims
• Latakia: 25 victims
• Hama: 84 victims

The Observatory also warned about the mass burial sites emerging in Syria’s coastal region. It reported that around 1,300 Alawite civilians have been documented as killed and buried in mass graves.

Additionally, the Observatory expressed concerns that these graves could be exploited for propaganda purposes, potentially being used to frame so-called "remnants of the regime" for war crimes, which could distort the truth and undermine justice for victims and their families.

The Observatory called on the international community to launch an urgent investigation into these crimes and to send independent documentation teams to the region.

It also urged the ruling authorities in Damascus to hold those responsible accountable, warning that impunity for such crimes threatens Syria’s social stability in the post-regime era.