On 9 February 2014, rebels of the Jund al-Aqsa group attacked and captured the Alawite village of Maan, in Hama province, killing 21 civilians as well as 20 pro-government militiamen according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR).

[2] The Syrian government gave a much higher death toll, initially claiming 42 civilians were killed[2] and later 60, most of them women, children and the elderly.

[3] The government blamed Nusra Front; however, rival rebel group Ahrar al-Sham said that its fighters collaborated with another group to kill around 50 pro-government fighters in the village and denied that the Nusra Front was involved.

[4] United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon later expressed great shock at the "dozens" reported dead and demanded that "perpetrators of this massacre" be brought to justice.

[5][6] The massacre caused demonstrations against Al Qaeda, Al Nusra Front, and the ruling Justice and Development Party by the Alawite community in Hatay, Mersin, Istanbul and other Turkish cities.