Syria's New Rulers Blamed for Sectarian Massacre, Suggesting West Has Once Again Backed the Wrong Horse
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A detailed investigation into the murder of 1500 Alawites just over three months ago in Syria has concluded that the crimes were sanctioned by the country's new Islamist rulers, raising huge doubts about their declared commitment to a new democratic system and shattering any hope that they will be held accountable for their crimes.
The investigation by Reuters also raises awkward questions about the West's hurried decision to drop sanctions against Syria and to offer both trust and aid to those now accused of involvement in a heinous massacre.
To date, Syria's self-appointed interim president, Ahmed Al Sharaa, has managed to sidestep responsibility for his own past actions as a member of an Al Qaeda affiliate - but his ability to unite Syria's bewildering array of religious sects and cultural identities will have been seriously undermined by the latest revelations.
Western officials claim it is too late to withdraw support from Sharaa. As one European diplomat put it "there are no other candidates. We are stuck with Sharaa whether we like it or not".
"We need to engage gradually and with caution to help Syria move in the right direction. We cannot afford to see the process collapse."
For now, though, the process looks decidedly shaky.
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Veteran Turkish ambassador Erdem Ozan, who left the foreign office at the end of 2024, says Al-Sharaa governs under a transitional declaration that grants broad executive authority but offers little in the way of checks and balances.
This, he explains, creates a hybrid regime based on more functional control than on legal authority
"Syria's path, " says Ozan, an expert on Syria, "indicates a mix of authoritarian control and selective pluralism. The ongoing selective violence and limited engagement with minority communities weaken his claims of national dialogue, alienating non-Sunni groups. Formal institutions like the transitional cabinet and justice committees are in place but public trust remains lacking."
"Sectarian violence, including over 1500 Alawite deaths, reveals an inability to restrain allied militias or deliver justice. His unilateral rise to the presidency and postponement of elections erode institutional trust. Failure to reconcile with Kurds, Druze and Alawites threatens national cohesion."
After 24 years of Bashar Assad's brutal regime, there were grand hopes for a period of truth and reconciliation.
But the report on the recent massacre highlights the fragility of the current situation.
Its conclusion that the killers' chain of command led to the capital Damascus could well re-ignit
Packed with exclusive investigations, analysis, and features
SUBSCRIBE TODAY
A detailed investigation into the murder of 1500 Alawites just over three months ago in Syria has concluded that the crimes were sanctioned by the country's new Islamist rulers, raising huge doubts about their declared commitment to a new democratic system and shattering any hope that they will be held accountable for their crimes.
The investigation by Reuters also raises awkward questions about the West's hurried decision to drop sanctions against Syria and to offer both trust and aid to those now accused of involvement in a heinous massacre.
To date, Syria's self-appointed interim president, Ahmed Al Sharaa, has managed to sidestep responsibility for his own past actions as a member of an Al Qaeda affiliate - but his ability to unite Syria's bewildering array of religious sects and cultural identities will have been seriously undermined by the latest revelations.
Western officials claim it is too late to withdraw support from Sharaa. As one European diplomat put it "there are no other candidates. We are stuck with Sharaa whether we like it or not".
"We need to engage gradually and with caution to help Syria move in the right direction. We cannot afford to see the process collapse."
For now, though, the process looks decidedly shaky.
The Decades-Long US-Israeli Plan for Regime Change in Iran Is Taking Shape
The recent attacks on Tehran are part of a long-standing plan by the US and Israel, argues Mel Frykberg
Mel Frykberg
Veteran Turkish ambassador Erdem Ozan, who left the foreign office at the end of 2024, says Al-Sharaa governs under a transitional declaration that grants broad executive authority but offers little in the way of checks and balances.
This, he explains, creates a hybrid regime based on more functional control than on legal authority
"Syria's path, " says Ozan, an expert on Syria, "indicates a mix of authoritarian control and selective pluralism. The ongoing selective violence and limited engagement with minority communities weaken his claims of national dialogue, alienating non-Sunni groups. Formal institutions like the transitional cabinet and justice committees are in place but public trust remains lacking."
"Sectarian violence, including over 1500 Alawite deaths, reveals an inability to restrain allied militias or deliver justice. His unilateral rise to the presidency and postponement of elections erode institutional trust. Failure to reconcile with Kurds, Druze and Alawites threatens national cohesion."
After 24 years of Bashar Assad's brutal regime, there were grand hopes for a period of truth and reconciliation.
But the report on the recent massacre highlights the fragility of the current situation.
Its conclusion that the killers' chain of command led to the capital Damascus could well re-ignit
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