France, Dec. 8 -- In the aftermath of the overthrow of Assad, demonstrators proclaimed the victorious unity of the Syrian people, from Idlib to Suwayda, Latakia to Raqqa.

A year later, following several outbreaks of violence, divisions between communities appear even more pronounced than at the end of the 50-year dictatorship.

Now, many in the country are calling for the creation of a federal system, while some regions are demanding independence.

In March, clashes between former soldiers loyal to Assad and forces of the new transitional authorities escalated into massacres of Alawites, the minority group to which Assad belongs.

Nearly 1,700 people were killed, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Since then, violence ...