Proving far more dependable — and brutal — than the Sunni ranks of the
regular army, many of their atrocities have probably occurred with the
blessing of Damascus. But even many in the opposition believe that the
latest massacres were probably carried out without reference to the regime.
If true, Mr Assad may have lost control of his death squads, an alarming
development.
To counter the Shabiha threat, Sunni rebels are believed to have set up
secretive militias of their own to carry out reprisals.
One such group kidnapped and executed 13 Shabiha fighters in the eastern city
of Deir al-Zor, while Alawites in Damascus report that they have been told
to leave or face death. Unless the sectarian cycle of hatred can be halted,
a full confessional war in Syria looks inevitable.
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