Image source, Getty Images

Syria's interim government is facing growing international pressure over allegations its security forces and affiliated groups killed hundreds of civilians in recent days.

At least 1,000 Alawites – a minority sect of Shia Muslims from which the Assad family, which led the old regime, originate – have been killed over the past few days, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The escalation in violence began after a series of attacks carried out by Assad government loyalists.

An eye-witness describes to the BBC how her neighbours, including children, were killed.

Syria's interim leader Ahmed al-Sharaa – who played a leading role in the rebellion that toppled Assad – has called for peace and announced an investigation into the violence. But so far, he hasn't directly addressed accusations that atrocities were being committed by his supporters.

The UN says it's received "extremely disturbing" reports of whole families being killed, and has called on the interim authorities to take "swift actions to protect Syrians" while the US says the Syrian leadership must hold the perpetrators accountable.

We're pausing our live coverage now – if you want to read more, you can see our full story here, or read analysis of the situation from BBC's diplomatic correspondent, Caroline Hawley, here.

Caroline Hawley
Diplomatic correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

When the then-rebels swept to victory in December, the speed of their advance stunned the world and surprised even themselves.

Within a matter of days, a dictatorship that had lasted for decades, was overthrown with very little bloodshed.

In power instead was HTS, a group once affiliated with al-Qaeda.

Its Sunni Islamist leader, Ahmad al-Sharaa, had rebranded himself years ago. And he promised to protect minorities, including Christians and the Shia Alawite community.

The Alawites had privileged status under the regime of Bashar el-Assad and have been terrified of retribution since his fall.

For the past few weeks, there’s been growing tension and small-scale violence in the Alawite heartland along the Mediterranean coast, where an insurgency by remnants of the former regime has begun.

When they ambushed and attacked forces of the new government on Thursday, its armed supporters headed for the area.

The revenge killings which followed are the worst violence the country has seen in many years – an unwelcome reminder for many Syrians of the worst days of its long civil war.

Much now depends on whether Ahmad al-Sharaa’s call for calm is heeded in a country awash with weapons and with bitter sectarian divisions.

This is the most serious threat to Syria’s stability since the interim government took power. And it knows that the eyes of the world are on it as it responds.

Image source, Getty Images

UK's Foreign Secretary David Lammy is the latest to add his voice to condemn the mass killings in Syria.

In a post on X, he says reports that "large numbers of civilians have been killed in coastal areas in Syria in ongoing violence are horrific", adding that the authorities in Damascus must protect all Syrians and "set out a clear path to transitional justice".

Earlier, the European Union released a statement condemning the attacks by "pro-Assad elements" on interim government forces.

"The EU also calls on all external actors to fully respect the sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of Syria," the statement adds.

France has also condemned the violence targeting "civilians because of their faith" as well as prisoners.

France called for independent investigations into the recent killings with its foreign ministry writing in a statement that Syria's interim government must guarantee the "preservation of Syria's ethnic and religious pluralism".

Lina Sinjab
BBC Middle East Correspondent in Damascus

Image source, Reuters

This is a gathering that has been organised by ordinary Syrian women and men in protest against the killings and violence.

The protesters are calling for national unity and for the prosecution of the perpetrators.

But they are also sending a message to the families of those who have been killed - that they are standing with them and against any sectarian tension or violence.

The people here are also supportive of the fighters who have been killed unlawfully by remnants of the Assad regime.

Demonstrations have been taking place in Damascus amid reports of violence on Syria's west coast.

We've received a report from the AFP news agency that Syrian security forces fired their weapons in the air to disperse rival protests after pro-government demonstrators clashed with a gathering mourning dead civilians.

Around 200 protesters had gathered in total on both sides, AFP reports.

Image source, Reuters

Syria's interim leader Ahmed al-Sharaa has led the country since the Bashar al-Assad regime fell. He was named interim president the following month.

Sharaa headed Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a faction that spearheaded the rebel offensive to oust Assad.

HTS was a jihadist group and aligned with Islamic State and al-Qaeda. It previously pushed for a Syria governed by Islamic law (Sharia), but has recently distanced itself from previous rhetoric. Questions have circulated since HTS rose to power over how the interim leader would handle Syria's multi-ethnic population.

Speaking from a mosque in Damascus on Sunday, Sharaa said "what is currently happening in Syria is within the expected challenges".

He did not comment directly on accusations that atrocities were being committed by his supporters in the coastal provinces of Latakia and Tartus.

• You can learn more about the Syrian leader's journey

An eyewitness to the recent violence in Syria has told the BBC World Service's Newshour programme that her neighbours, including children, were killed.

Hiba is Alawite and from Baniyas, one of the areas worst affected by this week's violence.

“They came and attacked our neighbourhood. Our neighbours were killed, including children," she says, "they came and took everything – gold, everything. And the last three days we’ve had no water, no power."

She says the attacks came from "Chechens and the army of Ahmed Al-Sharaa".

Hiba adds: "They killed our neighbour in front of this child. We were really afraid. We were waiting for our turn. We didn't know when it would come.

"We saw death, we saw people dying in front of us, and now all of our friends, our neighbours, they're gone."

“Today it is calmer," she says. "There has been some gunfire but they have come and taken away the bodies because they heard that journalists and correspondents were coming."

For context: Interim Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa has called for peace and announced an investigation into violence committed against civilians, but in remarks today did not directly comment on accusations that atrocities were being committed by his supporters.

Coming days are crucial in deciding how the country moves forwardpublished at 16:02 Greenwich Mean Time

16:02 GMT

Lina Sinjab
BBC Middle East Correspondent in Damascus

The violence has taken the lives of over 1,000 people. More than 700 civilians from the Alawite minority have died, including women and children.

The government is trying to restore order and protect civilians from the killing that factions affiliated with them are accused of carrying out.

The interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa has just announced a committee to investigate the killing and establish civil peace. The committee is formed of judges, lawyers and one army officer.

There is anger across the country because of the killing of civilians.

Protesters gathered in main square in Damascus to demand justice and accountability but also to show support for the Alawite community and solidarity with the families of officers who were killed by remnants of Assad regime.

The situation in the country is volatile and the coming days are very crucial in deciding how the country will move forward.

The new interim authorities are expected to be firm in punishing the killers from the factions affiliated to them, while also tracing the former officers of Assad regime to the recent violence.

Hundreds of people have been gathering in Syria's capital, Damascus, to protest against the violence in the country.

Demonstrators with placards arrived earlier in Marjeh Square, also known as Martyrs' Square.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), a war monitoring group, says that at least 1,000 people have been killed as a result of the violent clashes in over the last few days.

The organisation says that 745 civilians were killed in 30 "massacres" targeting Alawites on the west coast on Friday and Saturday. That is in addition to fighters killed over the past four days, and brings the total deaths so far to more than 1,000.

The BBC has not been able to independently verify how many people have been killed in the violence so far.

Syria's presidency has announced the creation of a new committee which will investigate and identify the perpetrators behind the attacks on civilians that have taken place over the past few days.

The committee will comprise of seven members and will be independent, the presidency writes on a post on Telegram.

The announcement follows calls for peace after days of violent clashes, allegedly between Syria's security forces and civilians in the Alawite religious minority.

The committee will "investigate the violations against civilians and identify those responsible for them", the statement says.

Image source, EPA

The UN says it's receiving "extremely disturbing" reports of violence in Syria and is urging the country's new leaders to take "swift actions to protect Syrians".

In a statement, UN human rights chief Volker Türk says: "Following a series of coordinated attacks reportedly launched by elements of the former government and other local armed men, we are receiving extremely disturbing reports of entire families, including women, children and hors de combat fighters, being killed."

He says there are reports of "summary executions on a sectarian basis" carried out by unidentified perpetrators, members of the Syrian security forces, and elements linked to the former Assad government.

"There must be prompt, transparent and impartial investigations into all the killings and other violations, and those responsible must be held to account," he says.

Image source, EPA

The top US diplomat, Marco Rubio, says Syrian authorities "must hold the perpetrators of these massacres" accountable.

In a statement, the US secretary of state says: "The United States condemns the radical Islamist terrorists, including foreign jihadis, that murdered people in western Syria in recent days.

"The United States stands with Syria’s religious and ethnic minorities, including its Christian, Druze, Alawite, and Kurdish communities, and offers its condolences to the victims and their families.

"Syria’s interim authorities must hold the perpetrators of these massacres against Syria’s minority communities accountable."

We're starting our live coverage on Syria as it faces what is believed to be its worst violence since the fall of the Assad regime.

Security forces have allegedly killed hundreds of Alawite civilians in recent days.

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), which monitors the conflict, says about 745 civilians were killed in 30 "massacres" targeting Alawites on the west coast on Friday and Saturday.

The BBC has not been able to verify the death toll independently.

Syria's leader Ahmed al-Sharaa has called for peace, saying, "we must preserve national unity and civil peace as much as possible."

Stay with us for the latest updates.