The UN Security Council, condemning the recent massacres of civilians in western Syria, today called on the Islamic regime to protect “all Syrians without exception“, whatever their ethnicity or religion.

The Council “strongly condemns the widespread violence taking place in the provinces of Latakia and Tartus since March 6, in particular the massacres of civilians, especially people belonging to the Alawite community,” a minority group linked to the clan of ousted President Bashar al-Assad, read on behalf of the Council the acting president, Danish Ambassador Christina Marcus Lassen.

The Security Council also expresses “its grave concern about the impact of these violence on the escalation of tensions between communities in Syria“, calling on all actors to stop all violence and any action that adds fuel to the fire.

For several days, western Syria has been the scene of mass executions of civilians, Alawites and Christians following attacks by supporters of ousted President Bashar al-Assad against security forces.

The NGO Human Rights Watch (HRW) spoke of many “hundreds of dead“, including entire families, and Syrian Observatory for Human Rights spoke of at least 1,225 civilians killed.

The Security Council called on the “transitional authorities” to bring to justice “all those responsible” for the violence.