ALWAGHT- The European Commission has invited Syria’s Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) administration to an official Brussels conference following the massacre of hundreds of Alawites in western Syria.
The European Commission has invited Asaad al-Shaibani, the foreign minister of Syria’s HTS administration, to a donor conference in Brussels on March 17. The event, titled Standing with Syria: Meeting the Needs for a Successful Transition, marks the first EU-organized conference since the Assad government's ouster in December. EU spokesperson Anitta Hipper described the gathering as an important opportunity to engage with Syria's new leadership.
Meanwhile, HTS-led forces have been accused of committing mass atrocities against minorities, particularly Alawites, in Syria’s northwestern coastal regions. Reports indicate that over 1,540 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in Tartus, Latakia, Hama, and Homs. Human rights organizations and the international community have condemned the violence, urging an independent UN-led investigation into the sectarian killings. However, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas refrained from condemning HTS, stating that it was too early to assess the situation fully.
Under HTS rule, Syria has seen a surge in violence, including kidnappings and executions, largely targeting Alawites. Despite initially claiming to respect all religious sects, HTS has carried out brutal crackdowns, including mass abductions and public humiliation of victims. Notably, the HTS regime has not directed efforts against Israeli forces near Damascus but has instead focused on persecuting Syria’s Alawite minority, with reports of hundreds of civilians slaughtered in a single day.
