Assad’s downfall would be a chance to come together and heal the wounds of the victims’ families. It was not to be. The regime had left roots too deep and the new rulers failed to learn the lessons of our neighbors.

A monitoring group says 973 civilians have been killed in revenge attacks against the Alawite sect since Thursday.

Ahmed al-Sharaa's rebel forces toppled Assad in December. Responding now to what he called a "critical moment", al-Sharaa accused Assad loyalists and their as yet unnamed "foreign backers" of trying to foment unrest in Syria – "to divide it and destroy its unity and stability", said Reuters.