Local and international condemnation of extremist attacks in Syria’s Coastal Region

LATAKIA and TARTUS, Syria — Local and international condemnation of the extreme violence targeting civilians in Syria’s coastal region have intensified calls for accountability by the Syrian Transitional Government to bring the perpetrators to justice. 

The Democratic Autonomous Administration of the Region of North and East Syria (DAARNES) issued a statement denouncing the heinous crimes. “The recent attack against the Coastal Region, particularly the killings and mass massacres, clearly indicate that we have not yet rid ourselves of authoritarian mentalities,” read the DAARNES statement. It calls for holding the perpetrators accountable and establishing impartial and transparent investigation committees to reveal the truth. 

The General Commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) Mazloum Abdi called on head of Transitional Government Ahmed al-Sharaa to ensure accountability for those committing sectarian violence in the Coastal Region. In comments to Reuters, Abdi emphasized that al-Sharaa must immediately stop the massacres, asserting that Turkish-backed terrorist factions are primarily responsible for the violations. 

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk also condemned the attacks against civilians in the coastal area. In a statement, Türk clarified that the Transitional Government’s declaration of its intention to respect the law must be followed by swift actions to protect all Syrians, including taking all necessary measures to prevent any violations and abuses, as well as ensuring accountability. 

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned the violations committed against civilians in the Syrian Coast by “extremist Islamic terrorists.” Rubio noted that the U.S. stands with the religious and ethnic components in Syria, including Christian, Kurdish, Druze and Alawite communities.

The United States condemns the radical Islamist terrorists, including foreign jihadis, that murdered people in western Syria in recent days. The United States stands with Syria’s religious and ethnic minorities, including its Christian, Druze, Alawite, and Kurdish communities,…

— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) March 9, 2025