Members of Syria's small Christian community on the coast are living in fear after attacks killed more than 1,000 mostly Alawite civilians, with Christians reportedly caught up in the violence.

"The current conflict in Syria does not concern me, but we are its victims," said Ruwayda, a 36-year-old Christian from the port city of Latakia.

"There's a feeling that no one is protecting us," she told AFP.

"I feel a mix of both fear and anticipation for what lies ahead in Syria, but I feel certain that migration is the only option," she added.

The wave of violence -- the worst since former president Bashar al-Assad was toppled in December -- erupted in Syria's Alawite heartland on the coast on Thursday.

It began with clashes between gunmen loyal to Assad and the country's new security forces.

What later transpired has been described as a "massacre" in which members of Assad's Alawite minority were targeted.

War monitor the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported at least 1,068 civilians -- the vast majority Alawites -- killed by security forces and allied groups.

There were reports of Christians being caught in the........

© Al Monitor