"Groups of unidentified individuals attacked Alawite neighbourhoods in the coastal city of Latakia on Monday evening, a day after Syria’s transitional authorities dispersed demonstrations by members of the sect protesting what they described as 'attacks' against their community. Footage shows hundreds of people vandalising vehicles and shops, smashing windows and causing widespread damage. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) accused what it described as 'supporters of the authorities' of carrying out the attacks. Later, Syria’s state news agency SANA reported that internal security forces affiliated with the transitional government had deployed across Latakia to restore order, ensure public safety and protect both public and private property. Latakia had seen large-scale demonstrations on Sunday, when thousands of Alawites took to the streets following a call by spiritual leader Sheikh Ghazal Ghazal to protest against repeated attacks against members of their community. At least three people were killed and around 60 others injured during the protests, according to multiple reports. SOHR claimed that public security forces had staged 'fake clashes', alleging they pretended to confront 'remnants of the former regime' in order to justify dispersing unarmed protesters and suppressing the demonstrations. The protests were triggered by a bombing at the Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib Mosque in Homs, located in a predominantly Alawite neighbourhood. The attack killed eight people and injured dozens more. In December 2024, Syria’s current transitional authorities took power in Damascus, later appointing Ahmad al-Sharaa as transitional leader after he pledged to form an 'inclusive government'. However, media reports have documented violations against civilians from Druze, Alawite, Christian and other minority communities. These developments have fuelled rising tensions, including calls for secession in Suwayda Governorate. Meanwhile, the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces have yet to be integrated into the newly formed Syrian army as of the time of publication."