LATAKIA, Syria (AP) — Clashes between protesters from the Alawite religious minority and counter-demonstrators broke out on the Syrian coast on Sunday, two days after a bombing at an Alawite mosque in the city of Homs killed eight people and injured 18 others during prayers.
Thousands of protesters gathered in the coastal cities of Latakia and Tartus and elsewhere. Officials said a preliminary investigation showed an explosive device was planted inside the Homs mosque, but authorities have not publicly identified a suspect in Friday’s bombing. The funeral of the deceased was held on Saturday.
A little-known group calling itself Saraya Ansar al-Sunna claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement posted on its Telegram channel, saying it targeted members of the Alawite sect, a branch of Shia Islam that hardline Islamists consider apostates.
Sunday’s demonstrations were called by Ghazal al-Ghazal, an Alawite sheikh living outside Syria who leads a group called the Supreme Alawite Islamic Council for Syria and the Diaspora.
An Associated Press photographer in Latakia saw pro-government counter-protesters throwing rocks at Alawite demonstrators, while a group of protesters beat a counter-demonstrator who crossed their side. Security forces tried to break up the two sides and fired into the air to try to disperse them. Demonstrators were injured in the melee, but it was unclear how many were injured.
Syrian state television reported that grenades were thrown at a police station, injuring two members of the security forces in the Tartus region, and that a vehicle of security forces in Latakia was set on fire.
The country has experienced several waves of sectarian conflict since the fall of former President Bashar Assad in a rebel lightning offensive in December 2024, ending nearly 14 years of civil war. Assad is an Alawite who fled the country for Russia.
In March, Assad supporters staged an ambush on security forces, triggering days of violence that killed hundreds of people, mostly Alawites. Since then, although the situation has calmed down, Alawites have still been the target of sectarian attacks from time to time. They also complain they have been discriminated against in public employment since Assad’s fall and that young Alawite men have been detained without charge.
During the Assad dynasty, Alawites were overrepresented in government jobs and in the military and security forces.
Government officials condemned Friday’s attack and pledged to hold those responsible accountable, but have yet to announce any arrests.
