Syria Halts Revenge Killings of Alawites and Christians

Syrias defense ministry has ordered a stop to revenge killings targeting Alawites and Christians after days of bloodshed. The directive follows a wave of reprisals by rebel forces who ousted President Bashar Assad late last year. It signals a fragile bid to curb sectarian violence in a nation scarred by 14 years of civil war.

Rebels led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham toppled Assads regime in December ending his familys decades-long rule. In the chaotic aftermath fighters executed scores of Alawites and Christians tied to Assads power base. The ministry now under rebel control aims to restore order and win over wary minorities.

Alawites an offshoot of Shiite Islam dominated Syrias elite for generations under Assad. Christians roughly 10 percent of the pre-war population often backed him fearing Islamist rule. Revenge attacks flared as rebels sought to punish loyalists with mass graves reported in Damascus suburbs.

The order came after global outcry and pressure from Turkey a key rebel backer pushing for stability. Videos of executions sparked fears of genocide prompting the ministry to deploy patrols in hotspots. Leaders vow to prosecute rogue fighters though enforcement remains shaky in a fractured state.

Assads fall left a power vacuum with rival factions vying for control amid 13 million displaced. The halt aims to ease tensions as rebels pitch a multi-sect government to replace his iron fist. Yet deep mistrust lingers with Alawite and Christian enclaves arming for self-defense.

Human rights groups documented 200 killings in one week alone before the order took effect. Many victims were civilians not combatants raising doubts about rebel discipline. The ministrys move is seen as a test of its authority over a coalition rife with hardline Islamists.

Russia and Iran Assads former allies watch warily as their influence wanes in Syria. The US welcomes the pause but urges accountability for war crimes on all sides. Rebel leaders hope it paves the way for talks to rebuild a nation gutted by conflict and sanctions.

Syrians brace for an uneasy calm as the killings subside but fear persists. The ministrys grip on rogue units will determine if this is a turning point or a fleeting reprieve. For now minorities weigh their fate in a land reshaped by revolution and retribution.