LATAKIA, Syria, Dec 29, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - At least three people were killed on Sunday during Alawite protests in western Syria, health authorities said, as thousands took to the streets across the religious minority's heartland following a deadly mosque bombing. A security source also confirmed to AFP that one of the three dead was a member of the General Security forces within the police department. Latakia's head of internal security Brigadier General Abdul Aziz al-Ahmad said "our security forces and protesters were subjected to direct fire from an unknown source", resulting in civilian and security personnel injuries, the interior ministry reported. Since Assad's fall, the Observatory and Homs residents have reported kidnappings and killings targeting members of the minority community. In March, Syria's coastal areas saw massacres of Alawite civilians, with authorities accusing armed Assad supporters of sparking the violence by attacking security forces.

Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha December 29, 2025 03:44 UTC