During the peaceful Alawite uprising in Latakia, the area of Al-Ziraa Roundabout witnessed an armed attack targeting an unarmed civilian gathering of Alawite protesters demanding their basic rights, following a series of massacres and collective violations committed against them since the takeover of the region by the De Facto Authority led by Abu Mohammad al-Julani.

A black Mercedes vehicle stopped near the crowd, and armed individuals—presenting themselves as “civilians” loyal to the temporary authority—stepped out. One of them opened live fire with an assault rifle, indiscriminately targeting unarmed Alawite civilians on a sectarian basis.

The attack occurred in full view of security forces affiliated with the De Facto Authority, who refrained from intervening or stopping the shooters, and instead allowed them to leave the scene without any pursuit. This stands in stark contrast to the official narrative claiming to protect peaceful gatherings.

Despite the armed assault, the Alawite protesters remained peaceful and continued to raise their legitimate demands:
• No killings
• No to sectarianism
• No to injustice
• Release of detainees

This scene reveals a profound gap between the official narrative and the reality on the ground.
It further indicates that the security forces of the De Facto Authority were not merely passive observers, but actively complicit, providing protection to the gunmen, facilitating their movement during the attack, and even contributing to arming some of them.

This incident remains a living testimony to the protesters’ commitment to peaceful expression and their pursuit of justice and dignity, despite ongoing attempts to obscure facts and distort the truth on the ground.

This morning in Tartous, on Al-Thawra Street in front of Palestine Station, the Alawite taxi driver was subjected to a sectarian-motivated attempted murder. The attack was carried out by a young man adhering to a takfiri ideology, which is endorsed, legitimized, and fueled by the terrorist de facto authorities. According to confirmed reports, the assailant questioned the victim about his religious affiliation, and upon confirming that he was Alawite, attacked him with a sharp knife, attempting to slit his neck. However, the victim’s seating position prevented the assailant from completing the act.

Mr. Abu Majd managed to resist the terrorist assailant, and local residents intervened, subduing him. (The man seen lying on the ground in video footage is the perpetrator.)

This crime falls within a broader policy of “sectarian cleansing” promoted by the de facto authorities, which turns religious identity into a tool for targeting civilians and treats belonging to a community as a legitimate pretext for violence. The attack constitutes a clear violation of humanitarian law and internationally recognized standards for civilian protection.

The victim miraculously survived the partial stab wound and was immediately taken to a local hospital, amid widespread concern among the residents.

To every conscience…
What we are witnessing is not an isolated incident, but a warning bell threatening social cohesion and exposing the tension fueled by extremist rhetoric. Sectarianism is a fire that, once ignited, spares nothing, and the only outcome is destruction.

We pray for the speedy recovery of Mr. Abu Majd, that peace and security return to the hearts of the people, and that consciences awaken to truth and compassion.

According to testimony obtained by Syrdoc from the relatives of the victim, Abu Majd (Hussein Salama), the incident began when the assailant boarded the taxi as an ordinary passenger. As the vehicle set off, the driver asked him about his destination while activating the fare meter. At that moment, the assailant suddenly directed a direct question at Abu Majd:

“Are you Alawite?”

The victim replied:
“My brother… yes, I am Alawite.”

According to the family’s account, the assailant works with his brother in a butcher shop and was carrying a meat-mincing knife typically used for cutting and grinding meat. Without warning, he pulled out the knife and struck the driver in the neck with the clear intent to slit his throat.

In an attempt to protect himself, Abu Majd raised his hand to block the blade, causing the arteries in his palm to be severed before the knife continued toward his neck due to the force of the blow. A violent struggle then erupted inside the vehicle. Passers-by eventually noticed the commotion; one of them opened the car door, causing the victim to fall to the ground covered in blood. Bystanders quickly restrained the assailant, detained him, and called emergency services.

Victim’s Identity
• Name: Hussein Salama (Abu Majd)
• Residence: Al-Areed Street, an Alawite neighborhood in Tartous
• Profession: Taxi driver for nearly 45 years
• Medical history: Open-heart surgery, arterial bypass in the legs, hypertension, diabetes

Assailant’s Identity
• Residence: Al-Baraniyah neighborhood
• Name: Ali Ahmad Bashir (as confirmed by eyewitnesses and verified reports)
• Affiliation: Adherent of extremist takfiri jihadist ideology
• Weapon: Meat-mincing knife carried from the butcher shop where he works with his brother
• Media narrative: Outlets affiliated with the de facto authority quickly attempted to frame the attacker as “mentally ill” to absolve him of sectarian intent—yet a “mentally ill person” who targets a victim solely for being Alawite is a rather convenient and implausible explanation.