The conflict in Syria, which was believed to have come to an end, has once again escalated, resulting in the deaths of over 1,300 individuals within a matter of days. According to UK-based monitoring organizations, the recent surge in violence has led to the deaths of more than 800 civilians, further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the region.
The Australian Syrian community with a population of approximately 55,000, is made up of Syrians from various backgrounds, including Christians, Alawites, and Druze, who are deeply concerned about the persecution of their family members and friends in Syria.
For Ghada Marouf, a Syrian-Australian residing in Sydney, the ongoing bloodshed has been devastating. Within just two days, she lost her entire extended family in Tartus, leaving her in a state of profound grief.
“My extended family, about 70 people or more, have passed away, and until now there are people we don’t know anything about — relatives, acquaintances, neighbours, friends,” she told SBS News, Australia.
“We try to communicate with them on a daily basis, and we are collapsing from crying. Until now, we have not been able to communicate.”
The latest outbreak of violence reportedly began last week in the northwestern provinces of Latakia and Tartus, where clashes erupted between government security forces and supporters of former President Bashar al-Assad. These areas, predominantly inhabited by members of the Alawite sect—of which Assad is a part—have now become the epicenter of renewed hostilities.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has reported that approximately 250 fighters aligned with the former regime have been killed, alongside 231 members of the country’s security forces. This brings the overall death toll to more than 1,300. Furthermore, the war monitoring group claims that security personnel or pro-government fighters have executed at least 830 Alawite civilians.
Marouf fears that each phone call from Syria may bring further tragic news. “The moment I heard my sister’s voice, she was crying and left me a voice message saying, ‘Sister, you can hear me now, but we do not know what will happen next.’ Her children were with her, screaming in terror,” she recounted.
This recent surge in violence represents the most severe escalation in Syria since the ousting of the Assad regime in December. The country’s interim leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former Al-Qaeda operative, has been accused of targeting minority communities since assuming power. However, al-Sharaa has denied these allegations, asserting that he remains committed to justice and legal accountability.
In response to the worsening situation, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has called for an investigation into the killings while strongly condemning the hostilities, where the Syrian Alawite community is urging government intervention.
The Australian Alawite community, although relatively small, consists of individuals who have sought refuge from conflict and persecution in Syria over the years. Many have established themselves in cities such as Sydney and Melbourne, where they have built strong cultural and religious networks. Despite being far from their homeland, they remain deeply connected to the events unfolding in Syria, advocating for their community’s protection and the recognition of human rights violations.
Fatima Ali, a representative of the Muslim Alawite Advocacy Group, has appealed for immediate action “We ask the Australian government and, in fact, the Australian people, to take note of what’s happening and to take immediate action [in] whatever capacity possible,” she told SBS News Australia.
