Meanings of alawite sect in English

The Assad family, from the minority Alawite sect, have ruled Syria for the past 42 years.

Rebels have also taken several villages in Latakia province, the heartland of President Assad's minority Alawite sect.

It is also a gateway to the mountains overlooking the Mediterranean, heartland of Assad's minority Alawite sect.

Mr Assad's minority Alawite sect dominates the levers of power and holds sway over the Sunni Muslim majority.

The Syrian uprising is mostly being waged by majority Sunni Muslims and largely opposed by Assad's Alawite sect.

The shabbiha, mainly drawn from Assad's minority Alawite sect, have been accused of carrying out massacres of Sunnis.

The violence followed sectarian killings this week that raised tensions between majority Sunni residents and the minority Alawite sect.

Loyalists, including members of Assad's minority Alawite sect, have been also kidnapped, but authorities have not released any numbers.

Mostly Sunni Muslim rebels are battling to topple Assad, whose minority Alawite sect is an offshoot of Shi'ite Islam.

Despite the uprising, Assad has strong support in parts of Syria, especially among religious minorities like his own Alawite sect.

Assad, from the minority Alawite sect, cannot unite Syria and quash extremists after nearly six years of warfare, they argue.

The Syrian uprising is mostly being waged by Sunni Muslims and largely opposed by minorities like Assad's own Alawite sect.

Assad's family and supporters from the minority Alawite sect have dominated Syria since his late father seized power 41 years ago.

The killings have been eroding support among the country's majority Sunni population for Assad, who is from the minority Alawite sect.

They said the attack occurred hours after a bombing in a neighborhood populated by members of President Bashar al-Assad's minority Alawite sect.

Many Islamists objected to rule by the Assads, secularists from the minority Alawite sect which they did not consider to be Muslim.