The Hayakve National Civic Initiative, addressing the unfolding events in Syria, has called on the Armenian government to immediately facilitate the repatriation of Syrian Armenians, reiterating its previous appeal to the Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

On March 8, reports surfaced that two Armenians were killed in Latakia. Antoine and Fadi Boutros, a father and son, were shot and killed while returning to Latakia.

By the end of 2024, "Hayakve" had expressed deep concern over the fate of the local Armenian community following Syria’s change of government. At the time, the group urged Armenia’s Foreign Ministry to immediately engage with Syria’s new leadership to secure safety guarantees for Syrian Armenians and initiate a repatriation process.

"Unfortunately, the worst-case scenario we feared is now unfolding. In Syria’s coastal regions, the new authorities’ repressive measures have led to protests among Alawite and Christian populations. This has been followed by mass killings and torture of civilians by armed factions aligned with the pro-Turkey government. Among the victims are Syrian Armenians, and this wave of violence could quickly spread to other Armenian-populated areas.

Given the dire situation, we reaffirm our demand that Armenia’s Foreign Ministry take immediate action to secure safety guarantees from Syria’s de facto authorities and organize repatriation for Armenian residents. Additionally, considering the catastrophic conditions in Syria, we call on Armenia, in coordination with international partners, to initiate an urgent UN Security Council session to discuss the crisis and take concrete measures to end the violence," the statement reads.

At the end of November 2024, Turkish-backed Syrian opposition forces launched a major offensive against the government army. In December, they entered Damascus, leading to the resignation and exile of President Bashar al-Assad to Russia. Syria’s new administration is now led by Ahmad al-Sharaan (known as Julani), who was declared interim president in late January 2025. In recent days, Assad loyalists have revolted in Latakia, sparking deadly clashes with significant civilian casualties.