Iran-backed militia groups have started provoking sectarian tensions in cities like Latakia and Tartus, which were once strongholds of dictator Bashar al-Assad before the revolution.
These actions seem to be aimed at undermining the efforts of Syria’s post-revolutionary transitional government to promote social harmony and unity. The individuals spreading the false narrative of oppression against the Alawite minority are believed to have direct ties to Iran.
These recent events follow a call by Iran’s leader, Ali Khamenei, urging Shiite resistance in Syria, indicating that these incidents are not coincidental. They pose a threat not only to Syria’s future, freed from Assad’s dictatorship, but also to regional stability.
Reports from the region reveal Iran is attempting to incite sectarian conflict in Syria. In the predominantly Alawite village of Basnada in Latakia, locals captured three Iran-linked individuals who had abducted a Syrian citizen from a Sunni village.
The kidnappers had planned to kill the man in the Alawite village, intending to spark sectarian violence between Syria’s coastal villages.
While one of the kidnappers refused to unlock his phone, the other two claimed they had no phones. However, they later admitted to being provocateurs trying to incite sectarian unrest and were handed over to security forces. The kidnapped man was rescued, and his phone, ID card and car were returned to him undamaged.
A key figure behind the sectarian provocations has been identified as a cleric with strong ties to Iran’s regime. Reports also suggest that Iran-aligned militias in northern Syria are supporting the PKK/PYD and that calls have been made for commanders who defected from the Assad regime to join the PYD.
This indicates that Iran may be mobilizing for a counter-revolution in Syria, adding further complexity to an already volatile situation and threatening the fragile peace in the region.
Prominent civil society organizations representing the Alawite community in Syria’s Homs province have issued a statement condemning sectarian slogans and inflammatory rhetoric observed during recent protests in several cities.
The organizations urged all parties to avoid actions that could disrupt social harmony.
In their statement, the Alawite civil groups emphasized the importance of “preserving internal peace and refraining from any form of media incitement.”
They also called on authorities to closely monitor the situation and take swift measures to ensure that weapons remain exclusively in the hands of authorized entities.
Background of protests
Protests erupted in cities like Latakia, Tartus, Hama, and Homs—regions reportedly under strong Iranian influence—after videos allegedly showing damage to the shrine of Alawite cleric Abu Abdullah Hasibi in Aleppo surfaced on social media.
Officials later clarified that the footage was from a previous incident during clashes in Aleppo, not a recent event. In a statement, the interim Interior Ministry has said the videos were actually from “old footage from the period when Aleppo was liberated by unknown groups.”
“We emphasize that our institutions have been working day and night to protect our properties and religious sites,” said the statement by the ministry’s media office.
“The purpose of circulating these videos again is to sow discord among the Syrian people during this sensitive period,” it added.
Amid the tensions, clashes between demonstrators and security forces in Homs and Tartus resulted in casualties. In response, authorities imposed a nighttime curfew in Homs from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. to prevent further escalation.
Coordinated disinformation campaign on social media
Authorities have identified a coordinated inauthentic behavior (CIB) network operating on Facebook, spreading sectarian propaganda targeting the Alawite community. These networks use fake accounts, misleading content, and coordinated tactics to incite fear and agitation.
Iran wants to create some kind of chaos in Syria after years of effort to sustain their presence and influence in the region.
Under names like “Protection Observatory” or “Violations Documentation Observatory in Syria,” these groups publish daily content focused on tensions in Syria’s coastal areas.
Their posts often include fear-mongering claims, such as impending “revenge” from Syrian authorities against Alawites and other minorities or warnings of an imminent obliteration of the Alawite community.
Newly created accounts amplify these posts through fake likes, comments, and spam activities, creating the illusion of widespread engagement by real users.
Manipulation, amplification tactics
One of the primary Facebook pages inciting sedition and protests in coastal areas was created just 12 days ago. It claimed to be managed by a journalist affiliated with the pro-Hezbollah and Iran-aligned Mayadeen channel.
The page reportedly coordinated recent protests before deleting the incriminating posts.
Old playbook: Iran’s sectarian provocations in Syria continue
Additionally, former regime figures have been observed leading protests, aiming to fuel violence and chaos.
A pro-Assad warlord called Shujaa Al-Ali was closely linked to Hezbollah. Known for his involvement in kidnapping and torture operations in western Homs, Gharra has previously called for the burning of mosques in Houla—a location infamous for a regime-led massacre in 2012.
He’s accused of war crimes in this area as early as 2012. He’s leading a militia operating on the border with Lebanon, abducting and torturing people (women and kids included) for ransoms.
One other key figure identified during the Latakia protests is Iran-backed cleric Luqman Ghra, who openly threatened beheadings and killings, using sectarian language and calling for the use of weapons against other parts of Syrian society.
He’s also inciting people to take up arms and fight the Syrian Interim Government.
This comes just hours after the Iranian foreign minister’s threats against Syria’s new government, following the removal of Iran’s influence in Syria and the success of the Syrian revolution against the Assad regime.
Foiled sectarian plot in Basnada village
In the Alawite-majority village of Basnada in Latakia, local residents recently apprehended three individuals affiliated with Iran after they kidnapped a Syrian man from a predominantly Sunni village.
The captors allegedly intended to kill the man within the Alawite village to provoke a sectarian conflict between coastal communities.
While one of the captors refused to unlock his phone, the others denied possessing phones. After admitting their intent to incite sectarian strife, they were handed over to security forces.
The kidnapped man was safely rescued and his phone, ID card and car were returned undamaged.
Calls for calm, cooperation
Latakia Governor Mohammed Osman reiterated the administration’s commitment to maintaining civil peace and societal cohesion. He urged citizens to remain vigilant against incitement and cooperate fully with security forces to ensure stability.
Source » turkiyetoday