The Russian air base at Hmeimin, near Latakia, Syria has rescued over 8,000 Syrian minorities fleeing the recent sectarian massacres.
Kremlin spokesperson, Maria Zakharova, said Russia is shocked by the tragic events in Syria.
“The victims were innocent, peaceful civilians. The use of force against civilians is categorically unacceptable. It can in no way be justified,” she pointed out. “We are certainly concerned about the developments in Syria and strongly condemn the massacres. Of course, we sympathize with the families of the victims,” the diplomat added.
According to testimonies of some of those sheltering at the air base, they have not felt any pressure from the Russian military officials who have welcomed them and have not been forced to leave.
The displaced people, mainly from the Alawite community but also a small number of Christians, are being treated with respect and humanity and are being provided with basic humanitarian supplies. The Russian military provided them with a field kitchen, a medical center, and tents, but the situation remains difficult as the air base is not designed to host such a large number of people.
Residents reported that Russian aircraft carrying humanitarian assistance, such as food, water, blankets, and tents had been provided, and have continued to arrive. A large Russian II-76 transport aircraft landed later at the base carrying medicines, treatments, and food. Russian sources said that Moscow would intensify its flights to the air base, reaching approximately 3-4 aircraft weekly.
The Mayor of Latakia visited the air base calling on the people to return home, but the people were still very afraid.
“We will not return until we ensure the arrest of these criminals, and with international guarantees that they will not return and repeat their crimes against us,” said one anonymous resident at the base.
Russian officials have assured the displaced people they can remain under their protection until an international solution has been reached regarding their safety.
On March 10, Russia and the US asked the UN Security Council to meet concerning the violence against civilians in Syria.
On March 14, the UN Security Council condemned the widespread violence perpetrated in Syria’s Latakia and Tartus provinces since March 6, including mass killings of civilians among the Alawite community, and called on the interim authorities to protect all Syrians without distinction.
Remnants of the former Assad regime staged an armed insurgency on the coast which is home to minorities such as the Alawite and Christian communities. The security forces responded to the attacks and deaths on their numbers with a brutal crackdown. According to human rights sources, hundreds of armed insurgents and security forces were killed collectively.
The Abu Amsha and Hamsat divisions of the security forces were called in to respond and innocent unarmed civilians were caught in the cross-fire, as well as house-to-house raids which killed and looted civilian homes in the Latakia, Jeblah, Banias, and Tartus countryside on the coast.
Eyewitnesses have confirmed it was the Abu Amsha and Hamzat groups who carried out the sectarian massacres and lootings. Human rights groups have estimated about 1,000 people were killed.
The interim President Ahmad Sharaa has formed a committee to investigate the massacres and has promised to hold those accountable, even those who may be connected to his administration.
On February 2, the Ministry of Defense in the Sharaa government appointed Mohammed al-Jassem (Abu Amsha) as the commander of the Hama military brigade.
Before his appointment, he led the Sultan Suleiman Shah Brigade in Afrin in northern Aleppo.
On August 17, 2023, the US Treasury Department imposed sanctions “in connection to serious human rights abuses committed in northern Syria, including abduction, severe physical abuse, and rape” on the Sultan Suleiman Shah Brigade, its leader Abu Amsha, his brother Walid al-Jassem, and the Hamza Brigade and its leader Sayf Balud ( Sayf Abu Bakr).
Brigadier General Sayf Balud is commander of the Hamza Brigade, formerly a Syrian rebel group in northwestern Syria affiliated with the Syrian National Army. He was trained and equipped by the United States, the United Kingdom, and Turkey as part of the Syrian Train and Equip Program in 2013.
The Syrian leadership has sought cooperation with the Russian Federation. Sharaa has said the future of the Russian air base at Hmeimin and the Naval base at Tartus is open for discussion and has recognized the long history of Russian-Syrian cooperation.
Recently, the Sharaa signed an agreement with General Mazloum Abdi of the Syrian Defense Forces (SDF). The agreement calls for the eventual integration of the mainly Kurdish militia into the new Syrian national army as it is developed. The SDF has been supported by the illegally occupying US troops in Syria, and this agreement foreshadows the eventual withdrawal of the US military from Syria.
Steven Sahiounie is a two-time award-winning journalist. He is a regular contributor to Global Research.