Maan massacre

Maan massacre
Part of the Syrian Civil War
Location	Ma'an, Hama Governorate, Syria
Date	9 February 2014
Target	Alawite population
Attack type	Massacre
Deaths	21–62

The Maan massacre was a reported massacre of Alawites in the village of Ma'an, Syria on 9 February 2014.

Events

On 9 February 2014, rebels of the Jund al-Aqsa group attacked and captured the Alawite village of Maan, in Hama province, killing 21 civilians as well as 20 pro-government militiamen according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR).[1] SOHR said that 14 of them were women.[2]

The Syrian government gave a much higher death toll, initially claiming 42 civilians were killed[2] and later 60, most of them women, children and the elderly.[3] The government blamed Nusra Front; however, rival rebel group Ahrar al-Sham said that its fighters collaborated with another group to kill around 50 pro-government fighters in the village and denied that the Nusra Front was involved.[4]

Aftermath

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon later expressed great shock at the "dozens" reported dead and demanded that "perpetrators of this massacre" be brought to justice.[5][6]

The massacre caused demonstrations against Al Qaeda, Al Nusra Front, and the ruling Justice and Development Party by the Alawite community in Hatay, Mersin, Istanbul and other Turkish cities.[7]

On 17 February 2014, the Syrian Army recaptured Maan "after shelling and fighting.".[2]

See also

• List of massacres during the Syrian Civil War

References

1. "More Syrians flee besieged Homs Old City". BBC News. 10 February 2014. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
2. "Syria Army Seizes Alawite 'Massacre' Village". Naharnet. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
3. "Syrian peace talks resume acrimoniously as Assad regime alleges massacre in Hama". Washington Post. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
4. "Syria peace talks resume; warring parties still far from agreement". Retrieved 25 October 2014.
5. "Secretary-General, Learning 'with Great Shock' of Reported Massacre in Syria, Strongly Condemns Violence against Civilians - Meetings Coverage and Press Releases". United Nations. 2014-02-11. Retrieved 2020-09-02.
6. "UN 'shocked' at reports of Syria massacre". SYRIA NEWS. 2014-02-12. Retrieved 2020-09-02.
7. Tastekin, Fehim. "Syria war sparks Turkish Alawite anxiety". Al-Monitor. Retrieved 2020-09-02.