A month after the fall of the dictatorship of Bashar al-Assad, fighting continues between loyalists and men of HTS. These pro-regime fighters are hiding in the Alawite mountains, near the coast, in order to carry out offensives against the new regime. The Alawite minority who lives in the region fear finding themselves associated with these men.
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With our special correspondent in Khorbat al-Maize, Manon Chaplain
Traces of blood still litter the tent. On the ground, dozens of cartridges were left there, at the foot of a stool from which Ahmad can no longer leave.
A few days ago, he was sitting there when his father was killed. An Alawite without history, ambushed in fighting between loyalists of Bashar al-Assad and the new regime. “ A fighter came this way, and he started shooting in our direction “, says Ahmad. “ I escaped, but my father died instantly. If these fighters had taken precautions, things could have turned out differently. »
“ Not all Alawites support the regime »
These HTS fighters were looking for loyalists hiding there, in apartments in the village. Many residents became frightened, three were killed as they fled.
Mahmud heard the shots from his grocery store. “ To tell the truth, they arrived here as if they were arriving at war. Some soldiers may have thought that everyone here was a supporter of the regime, because we are Alawites. But it’s false! Not all Alawites support the regime “, proclaims Mahmud.
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no one dares to go out anymore
Since then, the streets of the village have remained empty, no one dares to go out. According to Mahmud, armed loyalists are still hiding among the residents. “ We are very afraid “, he explains. “ Despite these incidents, we still support HTS, because we know that only they can protect us. Most people here only seek freedom, stability and security. »
Two days ago, three new HTS soldiers were killed during a fight between loyalists and the new regime, further north, in Latakia. The latter are now organizing themselves to flush out the last resistance fighters and are trying to protect themselves from their attacks, as explained by Abu Awad Bzeit and Abu Fahad, two HTS fighters met in the province of Tartous.
They are setting up traps to ambush us. We expect attacks at any time.
Abu Awad Bzeit and Abu Fahad, HTS fighters