Subjects:

• GS-2: International Relations: Middle East Tensions, Syrian Instability
• GS-3: Internal Security: Ethnic Conflicts, Civil Unrest

Key Points

Sectarian Clashes

• Over 1,000 deaths occurred in two days along Syria’s Mediterranean coast.
• Violence pitted new Islamist leaders against fighters loyal to ousted President Bashar al-Assad’s Alawite sect.
• Interim President Muhammad al-Jolani urged peace and national unity.

Conflict Roots

• Assad’s December ouster after decades of rule sparked sectarian strife.
• His armed supporters clashed with the new regime’s forces, with 200 security personnel killed.

Escalation & Fallout

• Retaliatory killings surged, targeting Assad’s allies.
• The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights called it the deadliest recent communal clash.

Global Implications

• Continued unrest could destabilize Syria and the region, drawing international attention.

Insights & Next Steps

• A ceasefire is critical to halt further violence.
• UN-led mediation is needed for aid and resolution.
• Long-term efforts must address deep sectarian divides.

Mains Practice Question

“Examine how sectarian conflicts affect Syria’s stability. How can global mediation resolve such crises?”