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Nusra Front Insurgents Carry Out Deadly Attack on Druse in Syria Nusra Front Insurgents Carry Out Deadly Attack on Druse in Syria
(about 2 hours later)
BEIRUT, Lebanon — Fighters from the Nusra Front, Al Qaeda’s arm in Syria, have killed at least 20 members of the minority Druse sect in a dispute in northern Syria, fueling fears over how the group treats civilians and minorities as it consolidates power and advances in new areas.BEIRUT, Lebanon — Fighters from the Nusra Front, Al Qaeda’s arm in Syria, have killed at least 20 members of the minority Druse sect in a dispute in northern Syria, fueling fears over how the group treats civilians and minorities as it consolidates power and advances in new areas.
The killings took place on Wednesday night in the mostly Druse village of Qalb Lawzi in Idlib Province, where the Nusra Front and allied insurgents have been advancing in recent months, seizing the provincial capital in March.The killings took place on Wednesday night in the mostly Druse village of Qalb Lawzi in Idlib Province, where the Nusra Front and allied insurgents have been advancing in recent months, seizing the provincial capital in March.
The episode — said to have begun with an argument over the Nusra Front’s demand to confiscate a government soldier’s house — comes as the militant group seeks to portray itself to Syrians as being more tolerant and willing to share power in local governance than the rival extremists of the Islamic State.The episode — said to have begun with an argument over the Nusra Front’s demand to confiscate a government soldier’s house — comes as the militant group seeks to portray itself to Syrians as being more tolerant and willing to share power in local governance than the rival extremists of the Islamic State.
The killings came at a time of ferment for Syria’s Druse, who have largely remained neutral or supportive of the government of President Bashar al-Assad, but who have increasingly resisted sending sons to fight in the army, preferring to keep them home to defend their areas. The killings came at a time of ferment for Syria’s Druse, who have largely remained neutral or supportive of the government of President Bashar al-Assad, but who have increasingly resisted sending sons to fight in the army, preferring to keep them home to defend their own areas.
In recent days, fighting has encroached closer than ever to the mostly Druse province of Sweida in southern Syria, and on Thursday, insurgents entered a military base in the province for the first time during four years of war. A spokesman for the Southern Front, which includes elements that receive American aid through a covert C.I.A. program, said the group had taken Al Tha’ala air base, days after seizing a major base in neighboring Dara’a Province.In recent days, fighting has encroached closer than ever to the mostly Druse province of Sweida in southern Syria, and on Thursday, insurgents entered a military base in the province for the first time during four years of war. A spokesman for the Southern Front, which includes elements that receive American aid through a covert C.I.A. program, said the group had taken Al Tha’ala air base, days after seizing a major base in neighboring Dara’a Province.
Syrian state television denied that the air base had been seized, saying government forces had repelled the attack.Syrian state television denied that the air base had been seized, saying government forces had repelled the attack.
The insurgents have advanced into the province as fighters from the extremist Islamic State group have approached from the north. Residents and Druse leaders have complained that the government has failed to provide sufficient protection. Some Druse have broached the topic of seeking an understanding with insurgents from the surrounding areas to maintain their safety. The insurgents have advanced into the province as fighters from the Islamic State have approached from the north. Residents and Druse leaders have complained that the government has failed to provide sufficient protection. Some Druse have broached the topic of seeking an understanding with insurgents from the surrounding areas to maintain their safety.
Walid Jumblatt, a member of Lebanon’s Parliament and a Druse leader, said an emergency meeting of Druse leaders would be held on Friday. He appealed for caution in reacting to the episode to the north in Idlib Province, saying on Twitter that “inflammatory speech” would “make things worse.”Walid Jumblatt, a member of Lebanon’s Parliament and a Druse leader, said an emergency meeting of Druse leaders would be held on Friday. He appealed for caution in reacting to the episode to the north in Idlib Province, saying on Twitter that “inflammatory speech” would “make things worse.”
There were conflicting reports about the attack on Wednesday in Idlib, but a general picture emerged of a heated dispute that escalated until member of the Nusra Front fired on villagers. There were conflicting reports about the attack on Wednesday in Idlib, but a general picture emerged of a heated dispute that escalated until a member of the Nusra Front fired on villagers.
Tensions erupted after Nusra Front fighters, led by a Tunisian commander, tried to confiscate the home of a government soldier, according to Hiba Izzedine, a Syrian from nearby Maarat Misreen, who said she had sent a member of her Turkey-based nongovernmental organization to the town to find out what happened. Tensions erupted after Nusra Front fighters, led by a Tunisian commander, tried to confiscate the home of a government soldier, according to Hiba Izzedine, a Syrian from nearby Maarat Misreen, who said she had sent a member of her Turkey-based nongovernmental organization to the town to find out what had happened.
According to that account, the family objected, and supporters gathered brandishing sticks. The commander then shot at residents, eventually killing 24, including a girl who was watching the melee.According to that account, the family objected, and supporters gathered brandishing sticks. The commander then shot at residents, eventually killing 24, including a girl who was watching the melee.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based group with a network of contacts in Syria, offered a similar account.The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based group with a network of contacts in Syria, offered a similar account.
Mohamad Feeza, a Nusra Front member in Idlib, sent a statement via text message that described a similar dispute, but he said that a resident was the first to draw a gun. That provoked a shootout that left “many people from both sides” dead, he said.Mohamad Feeza, a Nusra Front member in Idlib, sent a statement via text message that described a similar dispute, but he said that a resident was the first to draw a gun. That provoked a shootout that left “many people from both sides” dead, he said.
Ms. Izzedine said that the village had long-running tensions with the Nusra Front but had good relations with other insurgent groups, like Ahrar al-Sham — which recently joined the Nusra Front fighters in a coalition called the Army of Conquest that has made sweeping advances.Ms. Izzedine said that the village had long-running tensions with the Nusra Front but had good relations with other insurgent groups, like Ahrar al-Sham — which recently joined the Nusra Front fighters in a coalition called the Army of Conquest that has made sweeping advances.
Druse leaders are debating how to react as, to the south, the Druse of Sweida Province face the approach of both the Islamic State and the Southern Front, a coalition that has elements deemed moderate enough by the United States to receive American aid, but that has often coordinated with the Nusra Front.
At the same time, militants from the extremist Islamic State group have edged closer to Sweida Province from the opposite direction.
Wi’am Wahhab, a Lebanese Druse who heads a pro-Assad political party, recently called on the government to send more help to the area. Mr. Jumblatt, the Lebanese member of Parliament who is a sharp critic of Mr. Assad, has called for “reconciliation” with the surrounding Horan area, much of it held by insurgents.Wi’am Wahhab, a Lebanese Druse who heads a pro-Assad political party, recently called on the government to send more help to the area. Mr. Jumblatt, the Lebanese member of Parliament who is a sharp critic of Mr. Assad, has called for “reconciliation” with the surrounding Horan area, much of it held by insurgents.