The European Union expressed its concern about the violence in Syria in recent days, during which, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, more than 1,300 people have died, including over 970 Alawite civilians. The spokesperson for Foreign Affairs of the European Commission, Anitta Hipper, stated the institution's alarm regarding the situation and emphasized the importance of bringing those responsible for these acts to justice.
The EC confirmed that the initial attacks were perpetrated by forces loyal to former president Bashar al-Assad. Hipper highlighted the seriousness of the situation and the speed with which Syrian authorities have reacted, calling for those responsible to be prosecuted. The Syrian Ministry of Defense announced the cessation of military operations in the coastal provinces of Latakia and Tartus after five days of violence, during which over 1,300 deaths are estimated.
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, during the clashes, Syrian forces and allied groups allegedly killed over 970 Alawite civilians in an unprecedented act of violence. The Ministry of Defense reported the beginning of a new phase in which they would pursue remnants of the old regime hidden in rural and mountainous areas of the coastal provinces. The EC emphasized the importance of an impartial investigation given the contradictory information and stressed the need for an inclusive transition for the stabilization of Syria.
