Alawite rebels are trying to provoke a religious conflict in Syria in order to undermine and destabilize the interim government. This was reported by the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War on its official website, BTA reports.
According to analysts, in recent weeks the country has seen an increase in violence between different communities, especially aimed at the Alawite minority, to which former President Bashar al-Assad, who was ousted from power in December, belongs.
In parallel, disinformation is also spreading, which is further complicating the political transition in Syria, experts warn.
Last month in the coastal regions of the country — populated mainly by Alawites, a branch of Shiite Islam, more than 1,000 civilians have been killed. On Monday, the non-governmental organization “Syrian Observatory for Human Rights“ reported another 12 victims, mostly Alawites, in western and central Syria.
The rebels present themselves as defenders of the Alawite community, criticizing the interim government, dominated by representatives of the Sunni majority, for inaction regarding violence against minorities, the Institute said.
The think tank draws a parallel between the current situation in Syria and the events in Iraq after the overthrow of Saddam Hussein in 2003. Then, after the change of power, the country – with a predominantly Shiite population – fell into a bloody civil conflict, analysts recall.