‘Unimaginable wounds’: Survivors recount traumas of HTS massacres in western Syria

Alawite survivors of the massacres committed by the forces of Syria’s new administration have described their experiences of psychological trauma, which psychiatrists have termed “unimaginable.”

“We woke up to the sound of gunfire and screaming. We didn't know what was happening. I saw my neighbors being killed in front of their homes with my own eyes, and I could do nothing but hide,” survivor Abu Mahmoud, from the Latakia countryside, said in an interview with The Cradle published on Thursday.

“I could hear the cries of children, but the sound would soon fade ... they were killing everyone. When the noises finally stopped, I emerged from my hiding place to find my village reduced to ashes. The living were few, and death filled the air,” he added.

According to the interview, people in Syria’s Western coastal cities such as Tartous and Latakia remain gripped by fear that the forces led by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) may pursue them again.

“I fled with my children into a nearby forest. We walked for hours without food or water. The gunfire echoed behind us, as if death was chasing us,” Umm Khaled, another survivor, said.

“When I returned after days, I found my home burned down and my family buried under the rubble. I had nothing left. I lost my family, my home, my life as I knew it. Since that day, I no longer feel alive.”

The online news magazine cited a psychiatrist identified as “MA”, who has been working with survivors of the massacres, as saying that people are suffering from severe post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and are living in fear.

“Children who witnessed these atrocities suffer from deep psychological trauma. Some have lost their ability to speak, while others live in complete isolation. Many are experiencing persistent nightmares, and some refuse to eat or interact with others. We are trying to help them, but the wounds are deeper than anyone can imagine,” the psychiatrist said.

“The loss of entire homes and villages has led to the collapse of local communities, making psychological and social rehabilitation even more challenging.”

US intelligence agencies blame HTS administration for massacres in Syria

A report by US intelligence agencies says the forces of Syria’s new administration were responsible for the massacres of hundreds of religious minorities in the country’s northwest earlier this month.

Human rights activist, identified as “SA”, emphasized that “true peace cannot be built without justice.” The activist called for those responsible for these crimes to be held accountable, “not just for the victims but to prevent such atrocities from happening again.”

“Impunity is what allows crimes against humanity to continue," the activist added.

The Hayat Tahrir al-Sham militant group, a former branch of al-Qaeda, along with other militants, seized control of Damascus on December 8, 2024, forcing Assad to leave the country.

Earlier this month, clashes erupted in Syria’s western coastal region when the ruling Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) militants were reportedly ambushed.

During a large-scale operation to quell opposition forces, gunmen loyal to the new administration carried out a massive campaign of executions.

Militants reportedly went door to door, killing civilians, including women and children.

According to the so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), at least 1,500 people were killed, most of them Alawites.

Unofficial estimates say the death toll could actually be much higher. That’s while more than 20,000 people have fled to neighboring Lebanon in fear.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.ir