Alawite Syrians seek refuge in Lebanon from violence

Since early March, nearly 16,000 Syrians have fled to Lebanon, joining 1.5 million others who escaped during Syria's 14-year civil war. Many of these new arrivals are from the Alawite minority. Dhulfiqar Ali, a 47-year-old mobile phone shop owner, is among those seeking safety. He arrived in Lebanon earlier this month after facing violent attacks in Syria. Ali escaped death twice as armed groups targeted his community near the Mediterranean coast. The violence against the Alawite minority has been severe. Armed groups have killed hundreds of civilians in their pursuit. Ali described the attackers as not even speaking Arabic, only shouting threats against Alawites. His own experience has been traumatic. He witnessed the murder of his two brothers and was shot himself, but survived. Now, Ali and his family are living in a school in Masaoudiyeh. He had sought refuge in the mountains near Latakia earlier this year but had to leave again after the violence intensified. The situation remains dangerous for many Alawites in Syria.