A cousin of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was accused of killing a Syrian air force officer in a Latakia road rage incident over the weekend, and since then, things have not gone quietly in the coastal city.
With a large Alawite community, Latakia has been a stronghold of support for the embattled president. There, Assad has issued calls to arms througout the conflict. Some one third of the young men from Latakia have been killed on the battlefield. In over four years, Latakia has already paid dearly supporting Assad.
That's why when Suleiman Assad shot dead senior air force officer Colonel Hassan Sheikh in the streets of the city, tensions started simmering. While the latest reports say an official warrant has been issued, Suleiman has not yet been arrested for the incident. Now locals are calling for his execution.
And the things happening on the ground are being mirrored on social media. Have a look at some of the responses below.
Never seen Alawites so angry at Assad arrogance as over Sulayman al-Assad affair. Demos in Latakia & Facebook on fire http://t.co/9WsUoh1BJU
— Joshua Landis (@joshua_landis) August 9, 2015Demands by pro-Assad Latakia for execution of Assad's cousin, for killing a general. If only Assad dismissed his generals in Deraa in 2011?
— Hassan Hassan (@hxhassan) August 9, 2015Demonstrators swarm Latakia after Assad relative kills air force colonel http://t.co/BZulVRDKHH pic.twitter.com/FC8zNwe3LY
— Syria Direct (@SyriaDirect) August 9, 20151- I hope all you Assadists are watching this. The Alawites in Latakia have finally turned against assads family http://t.co/bObW51mJBU
— Malcolmite (@Malcolmite) August 8, 2015Suleiman Assad shoots one of the most highest ranking Assad regime commanders 4 times in the head over road rage pic.twitter.com/oQ6Bw3pyUs
— Malcolmite (@Malcolmite) August 8, 2015The #Lattakia protests are not just about Suleiman Al-Assad. It represents the frustration of Allawites being used as cannon fodder for Iran
— SyriansRISE_UP (@SyriansRISE_UP) August 9, 2015
Other users shot back at Alawites protesting in Latakia, claiming they were using the incident bow out of support for a losing Assad and stay in good graces with the rest of the country.
#مظاهرات النصيريين في اللاذقية """مسرحية""" لتجنب إبادتهم فقط و تبرئة من بقي منهم ، فات الأوان لن نعفو عنهم و لو... http://t.co/C21fbnMzpg
— Dr.Ahmad سنّي (@DrAhmadjoma) August 9, 2015
Translation: This is a play by the Alawites to avoid annihilation, however we will not forgive them, it is too late.
