"Now sectarian affiliation carries a presumed political position,
although in reality it's not that simple. There are Alawites and members of
other minority groups, including Christians, who are opposed to Assad; and there
are Sunnis who support the regime even though most rebels are Sunni." "But on
Aug. 4, Sunni rebels positioned in Salma and Doreen captured Blouta and 10 other
Alawite villages before dawn. Some 105 Alawite women and children were taken
hostage in the raids. Although regime forces won back the villages 15 days
later, the captives remain in the custody of Katibat il Muhajiroon, or the
Battalion of Emigrants, a hard-line group of foreign fighters led by a Libyan,
Abu Jaafar il Libi."