Iran has voiced concern over rising insecurity and violence in Syria, marked by attacks on minority groups which have sparked widespread protests. 

Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei on Thursday stressed “the necessity of preventing the spread of insecurity and violence against different segments of Syrian society, and ensuring the safety of all citizens” after militants desecrated an Alawite shrine.

Tens of thousands took to the streets in Latakia, Tartus, Homs, Hama, and Qardaha on Wednesday, but the country’s HTS militants who rule the country attacked them, leading to deadly confrontations. 

It came after video emerged of a fire inside the shrine in Aleppo, where militants – whom mainstream media has tried to depict as tolerant despite their history of close links with the most violent Takfiri groups such as Daesh and al-Qaeda – walked inside and killed its guards. 

Baghaei dismissed accusations that Iran’s meddling in Syria’s internal affairs as “baseless accusations.”

He reiterated Iran’s support for Syria’s territorial integrity and national unity, calling for the formation of an inclusive political system, with the participation of all political factions, ethnic groups, and religious communities, which respects the rights of minorities and safeguards religious sites.

Alawites are increasingly concerned about potential reprisals against their community, stemming from their status as a minority religious group and their historical ties to the al-Assad family, including ousted President Bashar al-Assad.

On Tuesday, hundreds of demonstrators protested in Christian areas of Damascus against the burning of a Christmas tree by militants near Syria’s Hama.

The Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) administration, which led the onslaught that toppled Assad earlier this month, has repeatedly claimed they would respect the beliefs and rights of all sects and religions in Syria.

The situation, however, remains very fluid and fragile, with a potential risk of further clashes as sectarian sentiments continue to boil over, amid the ongoing political instability and pressures on minority groups.