Militants affiliated with the al-Qaeda-linked al-Nusra Front killed 12 Alawite civilians after they attacked Maksar al-Hesan village on the outskirts of Homs on Tuesday.
Women and elderly people were reported to be among those killed. The deaths were reportedly due to supporting the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, himself belonging to the Alawite sect which is an offshoot of Shia Islam.
Meanwhile, Syria’s official news agency SANA reported that government forces have forced militants out of Maksar al-Hesan and restored security and stability to the village.
It said scores of militants were killed in the clashes in Maksar al-Hesan.
Syria has been gripped by deadly unrest since 2011. According to reports, the Western powers and their regional allies -- especially Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey -- are supporting the militants operating inside Syria.
According to the United Nations, more than 100,000 people have been killed and a total of 7.8 million of others displaced due to the violence.
MNA
END