Syrian security forces accused of killing hundreds of civilians

Syrian information forces are alleged to person killed hundreds of civilians belonging to the Alawite number radical successful continuing unit on the country's coast, according to a warfare monitoring group.

The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said immoderate 745 civilians had been killed successful astir 30 "massacres" targeting Alawites connected Friday and Saturday.

BBC News has not been capable to independently verify these claims.

Hundreds of radical person reportedly fled their homes successful the portion - a heartland of deposed president Bashar al-Assad, who besides belongs to the Alawite sect.

A full of much than 1,000 radical person been killed successful the past 2 days, the SOHR said, successful what is the worst unit successful Syria since rebels toppled the Assad authorities successful December.

This fig includes dozens of authorities troops and gunmen loyal to Assad, who person been locked successful clashes successful the coastal Latakia and Tartous provinces since Thursday.

Some 125 members of the Islamist-led authorities information forces and 148 pro-Assad fighters person been killed successful the violence, according to the SOHR's report.

A Syrian defence ministry spokesperson told the country's Sana quality bureau that the authorities had re-established power aft "treacherous attacks" against its information personnel.

The unit has near the Alawite assemblage successful "a authorities of horror", an activistic successful the metropolis told the BBC connected Friday, with hundreds of radical reportedly fleeing affected areas.

Large crowds sought refuge astatine a Russian subject basal astatine Hmeimim successful Latakia, according to the Reuters quality agency.

Video footage shared by Reuters showed dozens of radical chanting "people privation Russian protection" extracurricular the base.

Meanwhile, dozens of families person fled to neighbouring Lebanon, according to section media.

The UN's peculiar envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, said helium was "deeply alarmed" by "very troubling reports of civilian casualties" successful Syria's coastal areas.

He called connected each sides to refrain from actions which could "destabilise" the state and jeopardise a "credible and inclusive governmental transition".

Alawites, whose sect is an offshoot of Shia Islam, marque up astir 10% of Syria's population, which is bulk Sunni Muslim.