Three men walk through a street in the old city of Homs, Syria. Photo: AP.
Several protesters were wounded on Tuesday, November 25, as Syrian regime security forces cracked down on demonstrations in Homs, Hama, and multiple coastal areas calling for decentralization and the release of detainees, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
The Observatory reported that peaceful demonstrations were met with gunfire in Homs, Jableh, Latakia, and rural Hama, alongside severe repression that raised fears of broader unrest. Witnesses accused security personnel of running over demonstrators with government vehicles and firing live bullets indiscriminately.
In Jableh, confrontations erupted after individuals loyal to the transitional authorities stormed a protest led by members of the Alawite community who were calling for political decentralization and the release of prisoners. The clashes included the use of live ammunition and chants that heightened tensions among local residents.
Security forces closed the entrance to al-Amara Street in Jableh in an attempt to disperse the crowds, prompting protesters to regroup near the city bridge. Authorities also blocked demonstrators from rural Jableh who attempted to reach the city, amid rising tensions across the coastal region.
A separate rally was held in Tartous demanding an end to abuses and arbitrary detention practices by the transitional authority.
Arrests, injuries reported in Homs
In Homs, gunmen opened fire on demonstrators in the al-Zahraa neighborhood and assaulted them physically, resulting in several injuries. The violence forced protesters to withdraw from the area as the attackers chanted sectarian slogans targeting members of the Alawite community.
Local sources confirmed that a number of demonstrators were arrested by security forces, with heavy gunfire reported near residential homes.
The protests came in response to a call issued by Sheikh Ghazal Ghazal, head of the Higher Islamic Alawite Council in Syria and the diaspora, urging Syrians to demonstrate peacefully and reject violations attributed to the transitional authority. He urged citizens to avoid sectarian rhetoric and attempts to sow division.
Interior Ministry cautions against ‘external incitement’
Tensions have escalated in neighborhoods with significant Alawite populations across Syria, including the coast, Homs, and parts of Damascus, with warnings that these developments could push the country toward deeper fragmentation.
In a statement, Interior Ministry spokesman Noureddine al-Baba warned against responding to what he described as foreign calls aimed at fueling discord and threatening social cohesion.
He emphasized the importance of safeguarding the right to protest and ensuring equal treatment for all components of Syrian society.
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39 civilians killed in one week
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has documented the killing of 39 civilians in just one week, attributing the deaths to incidents of violence and security chaos across various regions of Syria.
The Observatory stated that this death toll underscores, once again, the rapid collapse of public security and the failure of the various competent bodies to fulfill their duty to protect civilians and safeguard their right to life.
In an earlier report, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed that at least 11,226 people have been killed in the eleven months since the fall of the previous Syrian regime. The monitor noted that the country is experiencing a wave of widespread chaos and violations against civilians.
On November 16, a shooting at a cafe in the village of Umm Hartein in the western Homs countryside left four Syrian civilians dead and one wounded. The attack, carried out by unidentified gunmen, claimed the life of a local man identified as Mukhtar Wadi al-Mawla, also known as Abu Ghazal.
Repeat massacres and killings threaten safety in Syria
Between 6 and 9 March 2025, Latakia and Tartous governorates witnessed deadly attacks focused targeting Alawite communities in Syria’s coastal region. SOHR documented over 1,400 deaths following insurgent attacks, with evidence of looting, arson, and sectarian violence. These events highlight the continued targeting of specific communities along sectarian lines.
On June 22, 2025, a suicide bombing and shooting attack at Mar Elias Church in Damascus killed at least 22 people and injured dozens more during a religious service. This incident underscored the vulnerability of minority groups, with civilians bearing the brunt of violence amid ongoing armed conflict.
Southern Syria also experienced deadly clashes, particularly in Sweida. From July 13-15, 2025, government (Al-Qaeda) forces and allied fighters engaged in operations against Druze communities, resulting in at least 1,311 deaths, including many civilians.
Earlier, between April 29 and May 1, 2025, ambushes and field executions in the same region killed dozens of Druze civilians and combatants, with some victims subjected to summary executions.
