Hafez left his Alawite village , beginning his education at age nine in Sunni - dominated Latakia .
As the French left Syria , many Syrians mistrusted Alawites because of their alignment with France .
Hafez left his Alawites village , beginning his education at age nine in Sunni - dominated Latakia .
As the French left Syria , many Syrians mistrusted Alawites because of their alignment with France .