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The Islamic State Is Targeting Syria's Alawite Heartland - and Russia
(Washington Institute for Near East Policy) Fabrice Balanche - On May 23, the Islamic State perpetrated suicide bombings in Tartus and Jableh in Syria, killing 154 people and wounding more than 300 in the first attacks in either city since the beginning of the war. When I visited Tartus and Latakia last month, nobody asked me for my passport or searched my suitcase. By giving 100-200 Syrian pounds (10-20 cents) to those who stopped us, the taxi driver was able to quietly proceed. It would be quite simple for terrorists to infiltrate the Alawite heartland, which is also home to Russia's main bases in Syria. Through the latest attacks, ISIS is attempting to send a message to the Alawites that the Assad regime cannot protect them. It hopes that Alawite soldiers serving on the eastern front will want to redeploy to the coast to protect their families. ISIS also hopes to spark Alawite reprisals against Sunnis. On Monday, Alawites attacked the al-Karnak camp in Tartus, home to 400 Syrian Sunni families; seven Sunnis were killed. The writer, an associate professor and research director at the University of Lyon 2, is a visiting fellow at The Washington Institute.