Thread by @maherakraa

Thread 🧵 | A Day of Controversy and Conflicting Reports in Syria

1️⃣ BACKGROUND: Early this morning (December 25), a video began circulating online, allegedly showing armed men entering the mausoleum of Abu Abdullah Hussein Al-Khasibi in Aleppo and killing five unarmed civilian caretakers before desecrating and burning the shrine. The post claimed that the video is recent and that it targeted a site revered by the Alawite community.

2️⃣ VERIFICATION ATTEMPT:
Activist and fact-checker @PrimoAhmad (Director of @VeSyria) says the footage is real but misleading, as it is not from today.
The platform “@VeSyria” dispatched a team to the shrine to verify. According to them, security personnel at the entrance prevented anyone from entering, citing “security instructions” from higher authorities.
Security guards also stated that the circulated video dates back to clashes in late November, when opposition fighters (as part of the “Counter the Aggression” operation) confronted pro-Assad forces inside the shrine. They alleged that the bodies shown are not civilian caretakers but regime soldiers who had used the shrine as a defensive position.

3️⃣ MISLEADING CLAIMS & META REPORT:
Ahmad Primo notes that his team reported the misleading video to Meta (Facebook), clarifying that the footage is old and that the individuals killed were combatants, not civilian caretakers.
The video shows a room inside the shrine on fire, contributing to the rumor that the shrine was recently burned, which multiple sources now dispute.

4️⃣ TIMING & NEW GOVERNMENT MEASURES:
Publication of this video coincided with the deadline for former pro-Assad elements to either surrender or settle their status under the new military administration.
Lt. Col. Mustafa Knaifati, Director of Public Security in Latakia Province, announced an extension of the surrender deadline, allowing more time for remaining pro-Assad elements (many of whom are Alawite) to comply.

5️⃣ OFFICIAL DENIAL FROM SHRINE SHEIKHS:
Sheikh Ammar Mohammad and Sheikh Ahmad Bilal, caretakers of Al-Khasibi’s shrine, issued a statement clarifying that the video is not from today. They believe it dates back to the period when opposition forces briefly entered parts of Aleppo.
They assert they only learned about the incident after speaking with neighbors of the shrine. They accuse unknown parties of reposting the video now to incite unrest and sectarian tension. They call for calm and coordination with local authorities to hold perpetrators (from the original incident) accountable.

6️⃣ CLASHES IN TARTOUS COUNTRYSIDE (KHARBAT AL-MAAZAH):
A local source in Tartous reported that clashes erupted in the village of Kharbat Al-Maazah between armed remnants of the ousted regime and forces from the new Military Operations Administration who were conducting raids to arrest wanted ex-regime elements.
Some vehicles were reportedly set ablaze, and there are unconfirmed reports of injuries on both sides. Nearby areas like Wadi Al-Ayoun are said to be potential havens for these fugitive groups, prompting fears of more confrontations.

7️⃣ MINISTRY OF INTERIOR STATEMENT & PROTESTS:
A source from the (new) Syrian Ministry of Interior told Al Jazeera that two police officers were killed and four wounded in Tartous during clashes with armed pro-Assad remnants, triggered by anger over the alleged burning of the Al-Khasibi shrine in Aleppo.
In response, authorities imposed a curfew in Tartous, Homs, Jableh, and Latakia due to protests that turned violent, with some participants shouting sectarian slogans.

8️⃣ ALLEGATIONS FROM ALEPPO POLICE COMMAND:
A separate statement from Aleppo’s new Police Command, led by Col. Ahmad Latouf, accused “remnants of Bashar al-Assad’s ousted regime” of setting fire to a religious shrine in Aleppo.
They claimed to have arrested suspects who will be brought to justice. This announcement followed demonstrations in several Alawite-majority areas (Latakia, Jableh, Qardaha, and parts of Homs) condemning the supposed desecration of the shrine.

9️⃣ SECTARIAN-CHARGED PROTESTS:
Multiple videos from Homs, Tartous, and the Alawite strongholds (Qardaha, Masyaf, coastal districts) show protesters chanting explicitly sectarian slogans, such as “Ya Ali” or “Alawite Forever,” with no appearance of the new Syrian flag (formerly known as the “revolution flag”).
In Damascus (specifically Mezzeh 86), footage shows an armed demonstration by alleged Alawite groups, while security forces maintain a high-alert presence in major cities.

1️⃣0️⃣ A COUNTER-PROTEST IN LATAKIA:
In contrast, a large crowd in Latakia’s Saliba neighborhood—mostly Sunni—rallied in support of the new Syrian Government, waving the “revolution flag” (now the official state flag). Demonstrators called for the arrest of “shabiha” (pro-Assad militias) and demanded accountability for all war criminals.
Some slogans included: “Freedom Forever,” “We stand with our Government,” and references to religious unity. The rally indicates ongoing tensions between different communities and loyalty lines.

1️⃣1️⃣ CALLS FOR CALM FROM LEBANESE SHIITE CLERIC:
Mohamad Ali El Husseini @sayidelhusseini, a Lebanese Shiite researcher, urged people in the coastal provinces to be cautious. He reiterated that the shrine-desecration video is old and is being recirculated to stoke conflict. He implored citizens not to be misled by inflammatory social media posts and to focus on preserving civil peace.

1️⃣2️⃣ ESCALATING RHETORIC AMONG AL-ASSAD SUPPORTERS:
Another video, allegedly from the coastal region, shows an Alawite cleric threatening violent retaliation: “Anyone who provokes us, we will behead.” Observers warn that such remarks risk fueling further sectarian violence, especially with large numbers of ex-regime loyalists still at large.

1️⃣3️⃣ STATEMENT FROM THE SYRIAN CARETAKER GOVERNMENT:
Minister of Information, Mohammed Al-Omar, declared that the era of sectarian politics once championed by the “fallen Assad regime” is over. He warned that “hidden hands” might attempt to exploit old grievances to reignite conflict.
Al-Omar reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protect all religious and historical sites, describing them as national treasures that unite Syrians.

1️⃣4️⃣ Observations on Sectarian Slogans:
Videos circulating today show a noticeable increase in sectarian rhetoric on both sides. Notably, the newly adopted official flag (once the revolutionary flag) is missing in several of these demonstrations, replaced by sectarian or religious banners—sparking concern among observers that it could undermine the country’s fragile social fabric. However, in the pro–new government rallies, the revolution flag was visibly present.

1️⃣5️⃣ Role of Iranian Statements:
According to political analysts, today’s sectarian tensions in Syria were partly triggered by recent Iranian statements, which they believe contributed to the escalation on the ground.

1️⃣6️⃣ ANALYSIS & COMMENTARY:
It appears multiple actors—local and foreign—are inflaming sectarian tensions. Large numbers of former regime soldiers and security operatives have fled to the mountainous coastal regions, retaining their weapons. Various factions inside and outside Syria may be capitalizing on these unresolved issues to destabilize the new government’s efforts.
A real risk of open conflict looms unless there is a concerted push toward de-escalation.

1️⃣7️⃣ CONCLUSION & CALL FOR DIALOGUE:
To combat misinformation and avoid sectarian strife, it is critical to verify sources and remain cautious of manipulated footage.
A comprehensive National Dialogue is underway in Damascus—led by Ahmad Al-Sharaa—aiming to bring all communities together and ensure transitional justice for war crimes. Swift action to hold perpetrators accountable will be essential for preserving stability and unity in post-Assad Syria.