Regime forces backed by militias of the National Defense Forces have launched a fierce offensive a few days ago on rural Latakia to retake the villages of Dorin, Nabi Yunis, Ketif Sahioun, Barouda and Al Naba’ al-Mor.
The regime offensive raises real fears of possible genocidal crimes against the residents of the area. Secretary-General of the Syrian Coalition Mohammed Yahya Maktabi call on the UN Security Council and the international coalition forces to immediately act to protect Syrian civilians in rural Latakia and other Syrian territory from the Assad regime’s atrocities.
Over 6,000 residents of the area have fled their villages and have sought refuge along the border with Turkey for fear of the advance of regime forces. Maktabi warns of the repetition of the massacres of Baniyas, Al-Bayda, Al-Hula and Al-Zara where regime forces summarily executed dozens of unarmed civilians. Survivors confirm that the majority of victims were slaughtered with knives, burned alive or shot at close range. (Source: Syrian Coalition)
