Latakia Massacres

The Latakia Massacres refers to a number of mass-killings of Alawite families around August 4, 2013, in several towns of the Alawite-dominated Latakia province. This was the same time as a massive rebel/insurgent conquest of 11 towns in this previously calm area, and all reports so far are clear it was extremists among them who did the killings of at least 100 civilians, reported as 200, all counts considered incomplete and details not all known. The scale might prove immense. The victims of course included women, children and the elderly, with rape and slaughter reportedly involved. The details will come together in the sections below. --Caustic Logic (talk) 11:00, 8 August 2013 (UTC)

Death Toll
(forthcoming)

For Mother Syria
An August 7 Facebook post by the pro-government "For Mother Syria" contains an advanced summary of the killings so far, published in English, with "Names of the victims of the massacres which wiped out entire families, committed by #Al_Nusra_Front backed by hundreds of terrorists from (#Baghdad_and_Al_Sham_Islamic_State_Army ) terrorist group against the civillians in 8 villages in the countryside north-eastern city of #Latakia and #Slenfeh. This happened at the dawn of Sunday 4/8/2013" The list they share is as follows, I counted 104 entries: --Caustic Logic (talk) 11:00, 8 August 2013 (UTC)
 * Sorry, was a bit slow to get the format here. For each town is listed people killed, then people abducted (fates very threatened), except where that's unknown. So 104 refers to know names in both categories. As noted, quite incomplete so far. --Caustic Logic (talk) 12:05, 8 August 2013 (UTC)

Victims names in village "#Nabata": (block listings hereafter?) --Caustic Logic (talk) 11:22, 8 August 2013 (UTC)
 * 1) - Hafez Mehrez Shehadeh, 80 years old.
 * 2) - Kamal Mohammed Shehadeh and his wife and their three children:
 * 3) Rend a 11-year-old girl.
 * 4) Nasr 9 years.
 * 5) Mohammed 7 years.
 * 6) - Jafar alSheikh .... a child of 4 years,he was scared so he asked for water to drink ..., a bearded man stabbed him to death.
 * 7) - Yassin Najdat Shehadeh.
 * 8) - Jaudat Shehadeh.
 * 9) - Emad El Sheikh.
 * 10) - Tamadur Salim Shehadeh,17 years old.
 * 11) -Khitam Adeeb Shehadeh.
 * 12) - Ibrahim AlSheikh.

Names of kidnapped people from village "#Nabata": 1 - Hajja Sheikh Ibrahim (Hafiz Shehadeh's wife). 2- Fahima Mohamed Osman. 3- Ramza al Sheikh and (4)her daughter Tayma. 5- Child: Amer Ghassan Yahya 6- Ahmed Shehadeh and (7) his wife Shaza Hattab and (8) their little baby :9 months old. 9- Ali Hattab 10- Kazem Mehrez Shehadeh and (11) his wife Dyaa Sweid and their three children: (12)Ola - (13)Haider - (14) Zain: one year old. 15- Mona Fatima (Kidnapped After they slaughtered her husband) 17- Samara alSheikh. 18- Lotus alSheikh. 19- Marah alSheikh. 20- Anaam alSheikh, 13 years old. 21- Bashar al-Sheikh,11 years old. 22- Ahmed Alhiekh. 23- Aktham AlSheikh.

Victims names in village "#Alhmbushiah" mostly children: 1- Hani Shakouhi. 2- Hamza Maryam. 3-Tahir Maryam. 4- Munther Darwish. 5- Hala: Munther Darwish' wife, she was pregnant, the terrorists cut her stomach after killing her and grabbed the baby out and threw him away. 6- Ayman Maryam (a little boy). 7- Lina Qadera (a little girl). 8- Ahmad Maryam (a little boy). 9- Refaat Maryam. 10-Dalaa Maryam (a little girl). 11-Marah Maryam (a little girl). 12-Farah Maryam (a little girl). 13- Mohammad Maryam (a little boy). 14- Jaafar Ismail (a little boy). 15- Wesal Tamer. 16- Taim Shakouhi (one year old boy). 17- Tamer Shakouhi (3 years old boy). 18- Lamia Shehadeh and all of her children. 19- Intesar Maryam. 20- Asrar Maryam. 21- Narjes Maryam. 22- Wahieb Maryam. 23- Nazier Arifu. 24- Adel Maryam. 25- Wael Maryam.

Names of kidnapped people from village "#Alhmbushiah" by Al-Nusra Front: 1- Fadel Shakouhi. 2- Wazifa Shakouhi. 3- Kenanah Shakouhi. 4- Afief Shakouhi. 5- Moustafa Shakouhi. 6- Faten Maryam. 7- Wedad Maryam. 8- Elien Maryam. 9- Doaa Maryam.

Victims names in village "#AlBalouta" ,Where entire families were wiped out : 1- Azab Salim. 2-Taim Salim (1 year old). 3- Sameir Salim. 4- Haider Salim. 5- Wafik Ibrahim and his 3 children: 6- Shadi Ibrahim. 7- Meqdad Ibrahim. 8- Ghaidaq Ibrahim. 9- Nihad Deip. 10- Fawzia Deip. 11- Ghadir Deip. 12- Amjad Deip. 13- Ziena Deip 14- Ziad Deip (1 year old). 15- Hussein Ibrahim. 16- Mariam Ibrahim. 17- Zahra Ibrahim. 18- Ismail Ibrahim.

Names of the (other?) kidnapped people from this village are not known yet.

Victims names in village "#Bermseh" 1- Solaiman Fatima and (2) his wife Samira Ghanem. 3- Mohamed Fatima and (4)his wife Fekriah Yassin. 5- Nadi Fatima, and (6) his wife and (7) (8) their two sons. 9- Basem Fatima and (10) his wife and (11)(12)(13) their 3 children.

Names of the (other?) kidnapped people from this village are not known yet.

Victims names in village of "#Abu_Mecki": 1- Asaad Solaiman Qadra. 2- Mohamed Kamel Qadra. 3- Faeqa Haidar, a school teacher.

I could not document more information about the fate of this village.

Village "#Aubin" was burned by the terrorists and we don't know anything about the civilians fate there, yet.

Village "#Esterbeh" close to #Salma. the civilians escaped but the terrorists occupied the village.

These information are documented but it's not the final and complete report.

Rebel Explanations?
(forthcoming)
 * Syrian rebels push advance into Assad heartland – F. Najia, 6 August 2013
 * Syrian rebels are pushing toward President Bashar al-Assad's hometown of Qardaha in Latakia province.
 * By Monday, the second day of their surprise offensive in the heartland of Assad's minority Alawite-cum-Shiite sect, the rebels had captured some 11 Alawite villages.
 * The villages include Aramo, 20 kilometers from Qardaha, and Baruda, where the rebels seized visiting Alawite cleric Badreddin Ghazal, a diehard Assad militant.
 * You can see above a photo of Sheikh Ghazal in military fatigue standing alongside Mihraç Ural aka Ali al-Kayyali, the man I dubbed in May “the ethnic cleanser of Banias,” who was also suspected of masterminding the twin Turkish bombings in Reyhanli.

Locations
(forthcoming)

News Search

 * AFP August 6 The rebels' capture of the Minnigh base in Aleppo province came after they overran villages in Latakia province, heartland of President Bashar al-Assad's Alawite sect, and marked a turnaround after the loss of two strongholds. (good news, no massacre report)


 * AP, Aug. 6
 * In the predominantly Alawite province of Latakia on the Mediterranean coast, the rebels captured 11 villages, edging closer to Assad’s ancestral home in the region, the village of Qardaha. The opposition’s gains in Latakia, an Alawite stronghold that has been peaceful for much of the Syrian conflict, is a symbolic blow to the regime and a boost to the rebels.
 * It was a blow more than symbolic to the Alawites living in those villages, and the AP report has heard a bit about how the rebels are indulging this "boost." --Caustic Logic (talk) 11:22, 8 August 2013 (UTC)
 * But those gains have been overshadowed by reports from activists that more than 80 people were killed in two of the villages overran by opposition fighters. The activists spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals. If confirmed, the slayings will likely deepen Syria’s sectarian strife.


 * The Observatory reported heavy fighting in Latakia throughout Tuesday while SANA said the army launched a counter-offensive and by evening, recaptured two villages. There were no immediate reports of casualties. Also Tuesday, pro-government daily Al-Watan said rebel kidnapped Sheik Badreddine Ghazal, a prominent Alawite cleric in Latakia region. The paper said he was taken Monday from the village of Barouda, one of those captured by earlier rebels. A government official in Damascus confirmed Ghazal’s abduction saying the cleric was “severely beaten” by his captors. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations, did not give further details.


 * Presna Latina, Aug 7:
 * Meanwhile, Syrian Arab Army units recovered the control of Aramo and Starba towns, in the northern province of Latakia, after killing the mercenaries who had occupied those localities last weekend, reported SANA news agency.


 * About 200 people were massacred by the extremists when taking control of various regions of that territory. Syrian Armed Forces continue with their offensive in the area to wipe out the so-called rebels by the Western.

SANA
I didn't check the content of any of these yet, but at least these 5 articles might be related, judging by words and date. I just searched SANA for Latakia and massacre, first in English, then Arabic. The English front page at least has nothing yet. These were all Arabic. --Caustic Logic (talk) 11:22, 8 August 2013 (UTC)
 * 1) July 28
 * 2) July 29
 * 3) July 31
 * 4) August 6
 * 5) August 6

SOHR
Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Facebook entries running back to Aug. 2. And select comments. This is apparently all they have, and the signs of any massacre come through as seen -slim to non-existent. --Caustic Logic (talk) 13:15, 8 August 2013 (UTC)
 * Aug.2 and 3, nothing for Latakia.For reference.
 * Aug 4:
 * Latakia province:The airforce bombarded parts of Salma town, reports of human losses. Clashes by the villages of Baruda, Inbata, and Sheikh Nabhan between the rebels and regime and pro-regime militia; reports of 1 regime loss. Several rockets fell on Baruda village, which is under rebel control, no reports of casualties so far. Violent clashes took place this morning by the observing posts of (Estriya, Baruda, Kafreya, Tela) in the Jabal al-Akrad area, Reef Latakia. Violent explosions were heard after rebels bombarded regime positions in the area. 1 rebel was killed and several others injured by the clashes as well as the regime bombardment. There are also reports of regime losses. 1 civilian was killed by the overnight bombardment on the village of Rabi'a, in Jabal al-Turkman.
 * (comment: Inbata = Nabata? 13 killed, 23 abducted, tallied so far. Baruda = "AlBalouta"? "Where entire families were wiped out," 8 dead, kidnapped unknown. Did youhear anything about "Alhmbushiah" "Bermseh" or "Esterbeh"?)


 * Aug 4:
 * Latakia province: more than 12 rebels (some non-Syrians) and 19 regular and pro-regime forces were killed by the continuing clashes in Jabal al-Akrad. Clashes began with rebel attacks on regime positions at dawn. Airforce has bombarded rebel areas.


 * Aug 4:
 * Latakia Province-SOHR: A young man, from the Raml al-Junubi neighbourhood, was tortured to death in regime forces' prisons, after his detainment a year ago.


 * Aug 5:
 * Latakia province: Rebels targeted regime positions in the al-Nabi Yunus summit with several home-made rockets. Parts of Jabal al-Turkman was bombarded by regime forces, no reports of losses so far. Regime forces regained control of the Beit al-Shekuhi village after violent clashes with rebels.


 * Aug 5:
 * Latakia province: Reports that rebel fighters took hold of the villages of Obin and A'ramo in the Jabal al-Akrad area of Reef Latakia in the midst of clashes between rebel and regular forces in the area.
 * (comment: ALLAHU AKBAR....good news)
 * (comment: Obin = "Village Aubin was burned by the terrorists and we don't know anything about the civilians fate there, yet." Names are given for the other towns, kidnapped and massacred.)


 * Aug 5:
 * 1 rebel fighter from the Jusr al-Shughour city was killed by clashes with regular forces in Reef Latakia.


 * Aug 6:
 * Latakia province: Rebel positions in North Reef Aleppo is under airforce bombardment, no reports of human losses. Clashes took place in Jabal al-Akrad, reports that rebels took over the village of Khirbet Baz.


 * Aug 6
 * Latakia province: 1 rebel fighter from the Jabla city was killed by clashes with regular forces in the Dourin town of Reef Latakia.


 * 51 minutes ago:
 * Latakia province: Reports of gunfire by the precinct in the Qneinis neighbourhood of Latakia, there is heavy regime forces presence in the neighbourhood. No reports on the reason or type of gunfire. In Reef Latakia there are reports that rebels are targeting regime positions from the Bani Younus summit, amid clashes between both sides. No reports on the number of losses in either side. the airforce bombarded parts of Jabal al-Akrad this morning, no reports on the number of losses. --Caustic Logic (talk) 13:15, 8 August 2013 (UTC)