The Syrian city of Homs experienced a tense calm on Thursday, a day after sectarian violence erupted, raising concerns about the fragile peace in the post-Assad era. Security forces patrolled the city, set up checkpoints, and conducted vehicle searches in an effort to prevent further unrest.

Heightened Security Amid Tensions

The streets of Homs, Syria’s third-largest city, were lined with checkpoints as security forces searched for weapons and verified IDs. Formerly under the control of Bashar Assad, the city now hosts a mixed population of Sunnis, Shias, Alawites, and Christians.

The new security forces, controlled by the former insurgent group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), face significant challenges. In contrast to the lax checks on the road from Damascus, security personnel in Homs thoroughly inspected vehicles and trunks.

The focal point of Wednesday’s unrest was Freedom Square—formerly named after Hafez Assad—where protests by members of the Alawite minority turned violent. A lone foot from a toppled statue of the elder Assad remains in the square, symbolizing the city’s shift in power.

Protests and Violence

The protests, triggered by a viral video of an Alawite shrine being vandalized, began peacefully, according to Alaa Amran, Homs’ newly appointed police chief. However, violence erupted when “suspicious parties… related to the former regime” opened fire on both demonstrators and security forces, resulting in injuries.

In response, a curfew was imposed, and security forces flooded the area to restore order. Residents like Mohammad Ali Hajj Younes, an electrician, identified the culprits as remnants of Assad’s loyalist militias, known locally as shabiha.

Violence Spreads Across Syria

The unrest in Homs coincided with attacks near Tartous, where pro-Assad militants killed 14 members of the new security forces and injured 10 others. Retaliatory raids followed, targeting Assad loyalists in rural Homs. Clashes also broke out in the village of Balqasa, further fueling fears of escalating violence.

Many worry that Syria’s fragile peace could collapse into sectarian conflict as the country struggles to rebuild after 14 years of civil war. “Some external parties may want to drag Syria back into sectarian strife,” warned Amran.

Hope Amid Uncertainty

Despite initial fears, many residents in Homs express cautious optimism about the new leadership under HTS. Ahmad al-Bayyaa, an Alawite from Homs, shared his initial apprehension when returning to the city but was relieved to find no hostility.

“We were afraid of being targeted because of our identity, but nothing like that happened,” said al-Bayyaa, who once lived in hiding to avoid conscription into Assad’s forces.

In a predominantly Christian suburb, residents embraced the holiday season with a giant Santa Claus display and Christmas festivities. Sarab Kashi, a Fayrouzeh resident, noted that HTS guards even volunteered to protect churches during celebrations, a gesture that reassured the community.

Challenges for the New Administration

HTS leader Ahmad al-Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, has distanced the group from its al-Qaida origins and promoted religious coexistence. However, the group faces the challenge of unifying Syria’s fragmented rebel factions into a national army while addressing security gaps.

Recruitment for new police forces is underway, but the numbers remain insufficient, and the proliferation of weapons among civilians complicates stabilization efforts. Different armed factions continue to patrol Homs, often in uneasy coordination.

Fears of Renewed Conflict

The events of Wednesday highlight the volatility of Syria’s current state. Residents like al-Bayyaa fear a return to the darkest days of the civil war. “Some people want to take the country backwards,” he said, “but no one wants to go back 14 years.”

As Homs and the rest of Syria navigate this precarious moment, the hope for lasting peace is tempered by the ever-present risk of renewed violence.

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Hundreds of civilians have fled the central Syrian city of Homs, seeking safety as anti-regime rebels continue their rapid advance south toward Damascus. Overnight into Friday, videos showed highways packed with vehicles as residents left the city, fearing an impending clash between rebel forces and government troops.

Rebels Eye Strategic City After Capturing Hama

On Thursday, the rebels seized the city of Hama, located north of Homs, and immediately shifted their focus to the strategic crossroads city. Capturing Homs could split the territories controlled by President Bashar al-Assad into two isolated regions: one encompassing Damascus and the other along the Syrian coast.

“Our heroic people in Homs, your time has come,” a rebel spokesperson declared, calling for support from locals. The rebel coalition, led by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), has recently captured two major cities in just over a week, aiming to overthrow the Assad regime.

“Our objective remains clear: the overthrow of this regime by all necessary means,” said Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, leader of HTS, in an exclusive CNN interview on Thursday.

Fears of Sectarian Retaliation

Homs, home to a significant Alawite population—Assad’s co-religionists—has become a flashpoint. Many Alawites fear retaliation from Islamist rebels who accuse their community of supporting Assad and dominating Syria’s political system.

A Lightning Offensive Reignites Civil War

The rebel coalition’s recent offensive began on November 27, bursting out of their northwest Idlib stronghold. Within days, they captured Aleppo, Syria’s second-largest city, and Hama, meeting minimal resistance from government forces caught unprepared by the speed of the attacks.

If Homs falls, it would mark a major turning point, effectively cutting Assad’s forces into two isolated zones. Rebel forces have already celebrated significant victories, with videos showing fighters jubilantly entering captured cities.

“Guys, my country is being liberated. I swear, we are in Hama and Aleppo,” a rebel fighter exclaims in one video, standing near Hama’s Alaarbaen Roundabout.

The rebels also released hundreds of prisoners from Hama’s central jail, claiming they were “wrongfully detained.” This same city was the site of a brutal massacre in 1982, when Assad’s father, Hafez al-Assad, crushed a revolt, killing thousands.

A Fragile Regime Under Pressure

Jolani believes the Assad regime’s collapse is imminent. “The seeds of its defeat have always been there. Foreign powers like Iran and Russia tried to prop it up, but the regime is effectively dead,” he said.

The Assad regime has not commented on the rapid rebel advances. Internet blackouts in Homs and the surrounding areas have made it difficult to verify reports from the city.

The Human Cost of a Renewed Conflict

The offensive has reawakened Syria’s civil war, which began in 2011 during the Arab Spring protests. Initially peaceful demonstrations demanding democratic reforms were met with violent crackdowns by the regime, spiraling into a protracted conflict involving multiple foreign powers.

Over a decade of war has left more than 300,000 civilians dead and displaced millions across the region, according to the United Nations.

As the rebels push southward, the future of the Assad regime and the Syrian people hangs in uncertainty. For many fleeing Homs, survival remains the only priority.

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