Syria Faces Renewed Violence and Sectarian Tensions After Assad's Fall

The interim government struggles to maintain control as massacres of Alawites and sectarian violence claim over 1,000 lives in March.

The fall of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024 led to the rise of a transitional government led by Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).
Recent clashes in northwestern Syria, including a massacre of over 800 Alawites, have reignited sectarian violence, with reports of summary executions and ethnic targeting.
The interim government has faced criticism for failing to prevent the violence and has announced an investigation into the killings, while arrests have been made in connection with the attacks.
Economic challenges persist, with Syria needing significant international aid for reconstruction, but sanctions and instability hinder progress.
International actors, including Russia, the US, and Gulf states, are navigating shifting alliances and priorities in post-Assad Syria, while fears grow over the country’s ability to avoid further cycles of retribution and conflict.