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Alawite families forced to flee neighborhood near Damascus
Dozens of Alawite families in Syria were compelled to leave their neighborhood near Damascus following threats from armed men, residents told AFP on Saturday.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that an armed group entered the Soumariya district, west of Damascus, on Thursday, forcing many residents to evacuate their homes. Some were reportedly coerced through intimidation and violence.
A young Alawite student described the ordeal: “Armed men, some masked and others dressed in black like security forces, ordered us to leave our homes or face death. We gathered what we could and left without knowing where to go.”
The region has seen increased violence since the ousting of former President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024 by a coalition of Sunni rebel groups. In March, clashes between security forces and pro-Assad militias resulted in over 1,700 deaths, mostly Alawites, according to the SOHR.
Local authorities have urged residents to return, stating that the situation has stabilized and that a commission is monitoring human rights violations. However, many families remain displaced, fearful for their safety.
Authorities claimed that residents had been informed they could return after interventions by local committees and the High Commission for Civil Peace. Nonetheless, Youssef, a 39-year-old Alawite, moved with his family to his hometown in Homs, citing ongoing threats: “The danger is visible on the ground. We cannot risk our lives; I have children to protect.”