A United Nations inquiry has accused fighters from Syria’s new government forces and allied groups of committing war crimes during sectarian bloodshed on the country’s coast in March.
The investigation, carried out by the UN’s Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria, detailed attacks that killed around 1,400 people, mostly civilians, in Alawite-majority areas.
The clashes began after pro-Assad groups ambushed government security units.
Fighting erupted between Assad loyalists, largely Alawites, and predominantly Sunni forces from the new government.
Armed civilians and ex-rebels moved into coastal towns, where violence quickly turned into reprisals against Alawite communities.
Investigators found that some of the attackers were former members of Turkish-backed factions and fighters once part of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, now integrated into the new army.
Armed groups still loyal to Assad were also accused of killings.
While no evidence showed that the central government ordered the assaults, the report described the violence as widespread and systematic.
Authorities have detained 37 suspects linked to the attacks.
The incident marked the first large-scale sectarian conflict since President Ahmed al-Shara’s Islamist-led coalition took power after Assad’s removal in December.
The findings have raised fears among minorities that the government cannot fully control its forces or protect communities from extremist attacks.
The violence has left towns with extensive property damage and destroyed infrastructure, making daily life difficult for survivors.
Hospitals and schools struggled to reopen, and aid agencies warned that access to food, clean water, and medical care remained limited in many affected areas.
The report comes shortly after fresh violence in Sweida Province, where battles between government forces, Bedouin fighters, and Druse militias killed over 1,000 people and displaced tens of thousands.
Analysts say the incidents underline ongoing instability in Syria, showing that tensions between sectarian groups continue to threaten efforts to rebuild peace.