Incident Summary:
On October 21, 2025, the Shrine of Sheikh Mohammad al-Balsnouri — a religious site belonging to the Alawite community in al-Mawrid village, located in the Banias countryside of Tartous governorate — was attacked by unknown assailants.
The attackers reportedly threw grenades inside the shrine, causing a massive fire that completely destroyed its contents and inflicted severe structural damage, leaving the building nearly in ruins.
Incident Documentation:
Type of Incident: Deliberate attack and arson targeting a religious shrine
Date: October 21, 2025
Location: al-Mawrid village, Banias countryside, Tartous governorate, Syria
Victim / Target: Shrine of Sheikh Mohammad al-Balsnouri — a religious site affiliated with the Alawite community
Targeted Religious/Sectarian Group: Alawite community
Suspected Perpetrators:
Unknown armed individuals.
Local sources accuse non-local militant groups of being behind the attack. Reports indicate that this incident is part of a recurring pattern of deliberate targeting of Alawite religious sites in areas under the control of armed factions affiliated with Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), amid allegations that the group’s sectarian rhetoric and incitement have fueled such assaults.
Context:
The attack underscores a worsening trend of sectarian violence and the systematic targeting of Alawite religious and cultural landmarks in northwestern Syria, coinciding with a broader escalation of hostility toward minority communities under HTS-controlled areas.
المقالة بالعربية: تعرض مقام الشيخ محمد بالسنوري للطائفة العلوية بريف طرطوس لهجوم
