Posted on 08/02/2011 6:39:10 AM PDT by Cronos
Syrian Muslims have begun targeting members of President Bashar Assad's Alawite minority.
A leading human rights group has reported clashes between Alawites and Muslims in at least one Islamic stronghold in Syria. In mid-July, at least 30 people were killed in fighting between the two religious sects in the Sunni city of Homs.
"They fell after civil fighting between pro- and anti-regime started on July 16," the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.
The human rights group said the Alawites have been the leading supporters of the Assad regime amid the revolt in Syria, Middle East Newsline reported. Syrian Observatory said Alawites were being abducted and killed in Homs, presumably by Sunni rebels.
"These clashes are a dangerous development that undermines the revolution and serves the interests of its enemies who want to turn it into a civil war," Syrian Observatory director Rami Abdul Rahman said.
This marked the first report of Muslim attacks on Alawite civilians in Syria. The Assad regime has been employing the Alawite-aligned Shabiha militia to conduct what human rights groups said marked the worst abuses against protesters.
More than 1,600 civilians have been killed and 12,000 arrested since March. Damascus said at least 500 soldiers and police have been killed in Islamic attacks.
Shabiha and security forces have been targeting Homs in mid-July. A civilian opposition group said 10 people were killed in Homs by security forces on July 18.
"Security forces and Shabiha are rampaging in streets and firing randomly," the Local Coordination Committees activist group said. "Whole neighborhoods are under siege."
I say let them fight it out!
From what I read, the demonstrators in Syria have no weapons and are being slaughtered by Security Forces. You would think the U.S. would find a way to start smuggling arms to them so they could defend themselves. Hell, we still have 48,000 troops right next door in Iraq.
I hence support the Assad govt ON THIS MATTER alone as if Assad goes, Christians will be slaughtered as in Iraq, Egypt etc.
No US troops in Syria.
More than 1,600 civilians have been killed and 12,000 arrested since March. Damascus said at least 500 soldiers and police have been killed in Islamic attacks.Asad's regime tries "the Gaddafy Gambit".
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