The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights released a new account yesterday (Wednesday), citing at least 1,383 civilians killed since March 6 by the security forces of the de facto authorities in Syria and their allied organizations in the western and central parts of the country.

The slaughter was mainly committed on March 7 and 8 in areas inhabited by Christians and members of the Alawite minority, to which the Assad dynasty belongs. The non-governmental organization clarified that this account remains provisional, as “the counting of the dead is still ongoing.”

The wave of violence erupted last Thursday, sparked by a deadly attack by alleged supporters of the previous regime on security forces in the town of Jabla, near Latakia, cradle of the Shiite Alawite minority.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights continues to record body counts despite the end of the wave of violence, as many were killed in their homes or in fields, its director Rami Abdel Rahman explained to Agence France-Presse.

According to the Britain-based NGO, which relies on a wide network of sources in Syria, 683 civilians were killed in Latakia province, 433 in Tartous province, 255 in Hama province and 12 in Homs province.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights spoke of “summary executions” with civilian victims mainly belonging to the Alawite minority but also Christians.

Residents of Syria’s western coastal region spoke of fierce clashes and killings. The NGO and activists released videos showing executions of unarmed people in civilian clothes, and others showing, for example, dozens of dead bodies in the yard of a house.

Yesterday, a video depicting an elderly woman asking a group of armed men, some of them hooded, to speak as they bragged about killing men on the ground and insulting the Alawite community, went viral among Syrian social media users.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which says it has verified the video, the woman is named Zarqa Sabahia, is 86 years old and is from the village of Kabau in Latakia province. The bodies of her two sons and grandson, who were killed by “members of the security forces” after they entered the village on March 7, lie on the ground.

According to the NGO, who spoke to her daughter, the bodies remained in front of the house for four days while the 86-year-old watched in the hope of being allowed to bury the dead.

Agence France-Presse was unable to independently verify the authenticity of this footage.

The Syrian regime announced Sunday the formation of an “independent” commission of inquiry to investigate “atrocities against civilians,” identify those responsible and bring them “to justice.”

The de facto authorities announced seven arrests since Monday of suspects suspected of committing atrocities against civilians, who were referred to military justice.